One Tree Hill plays a unique blend of styles that can perhaps best be described as acoustic-driven Americana. They started out as a trio - acoustic guitar, fiddle and two vocals - and have since added bass (upright & electric), drums (kit & hand), and a second guitar (acoustic & electric) to their sound.
After playing solo for three years, Lloyd added a vocalist and fiddle to the mix, eventually growing to their current configuration. "We leaned more toward the folk elements of our sound during the early days. Brian's guitar work adds a rock facet to our current sound. I like both folk and rock, and also bluegrass, country and jazz. We've got ingredients from each of those genres in our music. The fact that we don't sit in the middle of any musical genre is fine with us," says Lloyd. The songs continue to be shaped by Lloyd's hard-knocks journey--this thing we call life. Thus it has been said, "[OTH], your music was balm for the soul, and is so very important. I was particularly moved by the words in your music."
OTH's unique sound and willingness to speak forthrightly in their music makes for a refreshing and moving experience. |
Patrick Lloyd was raised in Smyrna, Georgia and grew up playing music
and sports. Patrick played baseball in college through his junior year
when an auto accident left him paralyzed from the chest down (see
Yackety Yack ... The Wheels Around Me). Patrick returned to school at
Georgia State University earning a B.A. in philosophy and a J.D. from
the college of law. He was a trial lawyer in Atlanta for several years
until he left the practice of law to pursue sharing his faith through
music full time. "I've fallen from law to grace," Patrick muses.
Carl Bedingfield grew up in Columbus, Georgia, then moved to Atlanta, graduating from Georgia Tech with a B.S. in Physics and Computer Science. While at Tech, Carl began playing guitar and bass. Carl pontificates, "Those were the days of barefeet, blue jeans and tie dye. Some things never change." He's played in several bands over the years & is an original member OTH. Carl also is the techno wizard for the band.
Brian Bartlett is a native Atlantan, graduating from what is now known as North Atlanta High School. After high school, Brian toured from Sandy Springs to Saudi Arabia with various rock bands for fifteen years. Brian definitely wins the Most Band-Worthy award amongst us OTHchers. Brian got his first guitar at 10, teaching himself how to play from the infamous Mel Bay ("This is a plectrum [guitar pick]") books.
Coby Rosson, originally from east Tennessee, has been a North Georgia resident for the last nine years. Coby grew up in a family of professional musicians and is at home playing the various genres found in One Tree Hill's Americana blend. He graduated from North Georgia College with a degree in Health and Physical Education and currently teaches at Horizon Christian Academy. Coby's primary instrument is guitar but, like others in his family, he has the talent to excel on more than one instrument. Coby performs on occasion with his family's band, The Rossons.
Coby plays drums and percussion
OTH began when songwriter Patrick Lloyd left
the practice of law to pursue music. "There is no better way than
in and through music to share
that which means the most to us in life,
" says
Lloyd. "Music commmunes with us in very intimate yet mostly unknown, mysterious ways. The melody
& lyric of a song blows like the wind in and through us wherever it
pleases. And we cannot contain it -- 'Who in the hollow of his hands has
gathered up the wind?'" 
"We definitely see our music as
an opportunity to talk about what matters most in life and do not hesitate to
talk about spiritual matters, but not to the exclusion of the physical and
emotional. Our faith is not a magic carpet ride that hovers above the daily
grind," Lloyd says. "Yes, we're all occasionally blessed with
a respite and you will hear that in some of our songs, but our music mostly
endeavors to embrace the struggles of life head on."