Tree (musician)

Last updated
Tree
Birth nameKeith Barry
Also known asKeith "The Tree" Barry
Born New York City
Genres
Occupation
  • Musician
Instruments
  • Saxophone
  • viola
  • flute
  • cornet
  • clarinet
  • harmonica
Years active1984–present
Labels
  • Saphu Records

Keith Barry (born 1963or1964) [1] known professionally as Tree, is an American musician and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as a past touring member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and for having appeared on several albums released by the band. He is also a member of the funk band Mandrill. [2] He has collaborated with groups including Gov't Mule and Thelonious Monster. Tree is the co-founder and former dean of the Silverlake Conservatory of Music.

Contents

Early life

Tree was a native of New York City. He lived with his mother and sister in Far Rockaway before the family relocated to rural New Jersey. At the age of 12, Tree moved in with his father who lived in Los Angeles. [3]

Tree attended Bancroft Middle School and Fairfax High School. [4] In junior high, he met Flea, and the two remained friends throughout high school. [5] He started using the name Tree during a ski trip with Flea and Anthony Kiedis. [6]

Tree was a prodigious music student. He was drawn to the viola after meeting Novi Novog, and was later taught by Norman Botnick. Although viola was his preferred instrument, he sought to learn a new instrument each semester of band. [3]

After high school, Tree attended the Berklee College of Music. [7] He dropped out to move back to New York City. [3]

Career

Tree returned to Los Angeles. He was around for the formation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers by his old classmates, and claims he came up with the band's name. [8] He is credited with playing viola and arranging horns on their first album, The Red Hot Chili Peppers . [9] Tree returned to the band in 1989, playing tenor saxophone on the album Mother's Milk . [10] Tree joined on the Mother's Milk Tour and the band played as a quintet. [11]

Tree worked as a music teacher. In 2001, Flea and Tree co founded the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, where Tree served as the Conservatory's dean. [5] [12] [13] Tree, a noted instrumentalist, taught many of the classes himself. In 2004, the Los Angeles Times called him "a master of nearly every instrument". [1]

Tree is a believer in the car-free movement. He relocated to Humboldt County in 2019 citing increasingly dangerous conditions for cyclists in Los Angeles. [3] That year, Tree joined the All Seasons Orchestra of Arcata, California on viola. [14] In 2020, he retired from teaching at Silverlake. [15]

Partial discography

Solo

Collaborations

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Thelonius Monster
Other

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References

  1. 1 2 Hochman, Steve (11 March 2004). "The real school of rock". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  2. ↑ "Keith Barry". Mandrill. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Keith "Tree" Barry Teaches a Lesson". Troubled Men Podcast (Podcast). No. 185. Interviewed by Chevrolet, Manny; Coman, René. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  4. ↑ Brewster, Tabor (25 September 2024). "Flea's legacy". Beverly Press & Park Labrea News. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  5. 1 2 Quan, Denise. "Chili Pepper's music school has kids hoppin', learning". CNN. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  6. ↑ Lloyd, Robert (2 October 2002). "This Ain't No Juilliard!". LA Weekly. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  7. ↑ "Jury Panel: 2021". Zawinul Foundation For Achievement. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  8. ↑ Poisuo, Pauli (23 April 2020). "The Truth About How The Red Hot Chili Peppers Got Their Name". Grunge. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Red Hot Chili Peppers: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  10. ↑ "Mother's Milk - Red Hot Chili Peppers: Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  11. ↑ St. John, Michael (28 November 1989). "Chili Peppers Pack Barrymore". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 27. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  12. ↑ Carpenter, Susan (3 October 2001). "Opening a New Door". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  13. ↑ Tenreyro, Tatiana (6 September 2017). "Flea Interview: Revisiting His High School Sparked His Crusade for Music Education". Billboard. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  14. ↑ "'A Winter Rhapsody'". Times-Standard. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  15. ↑ @silverlake_conservatory (18 November 2020). "Our Dean and Co Founder Keith "Tree" Barry wrapped his last day of teaching yesterday. Keith, thank you for your 20 years of devotion to SCM and the beautiful legacy you have built. We cannot wait to hear about your next adventures! 🚲 💚 🌳" – via Instagram.
  16. ↑ Peña, Tomas (5 November 2021). "Mandrill Celebrates 50 Years with New Album and Limited Edition Collector's Box Set". JazzDeLaPena. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
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