As the last major music publisher that was owned and operated in Nashville, it was sold to the CBS Records Group in 1989.
Tree International Publishing was founded by Jack Stapp in the 1950s.
In 1953, Stapp hired Buddy Killen, then twenty years old, to audition songs and sing demos.
In 1956, Killen discovered "Heartbreak Hotel", which he persuaded Elvis Presley to record.
[2] After Stapp died in 1980, Killen became the president and sole owner of the company.