Newly planted fruit trees should be given at least a gallon of water every 7 days. Have you been giving it enough water?

A gallon a week is the bare minimum needed for anything planted this season. But it may not be nearly enough. Different soils and different climates will have different watering needs so not at all realistic to make any blanket or hard and fast watering pronouncements :-)

Your tree could well be showing the effects of water stress.......not enough water. The soil should stay evenly moist/damp - not wet - to the full depth of the rootball and fully surrounding it. And that is only determined by testing, not by applying some set amount.

Yes, it’s been watered regulary. In fact I was wondering if it had been over watered, although I don’t think thats the case. But who knows …

What does the retailer who you bought the trees from have to say? Best check with them first to analyze any problems that may have affected your trees.

Some may even have a warranty of some sort to help defray expenses under certain conditions.

I have no insight as to what specifically might be going on with your tree, but I can say that there have been things that for the life of me I cannot grow. With no explanation as to why. Maybe there's just something with that particular cultivar. Have you tried a different cultivar? Stella is a good one, and I planted a Sweetheart last year that is doing quite well, but Black Tartarian and Lapins have previously died (two Black Tartarians died on me, actually).

Where you are located may also have some impact. Lapins was developed in British Columbia and might be best suited for cooler summer, low humidity climates. It is one of the most popular and successful cherries for this area (WA state is a leading commercial cherry producer).

Spring and disease go hand in hand. This looks like an anthracnose infection.

Infected trees often have their new Spring flush starts to deteriorate quickly.

It may bounce back with a new set of growth.