German guitarist/singer/songwriter Tim Bendzko was born in the city of Berlin in 1985. He spent his formative years playing sports and studying Protestant theology and non-Christian religions before taking up the guitar in his late teens. After winning a talent competition at the 2009 Berlin Waldbühne, Bendzko made the decision to focus solely on a career in music, resulting in a recording contract with Sony, which led to the release of his debut album, Wenn Worte Meine Sprache Wären, in June 2011. ~ James Christopher Monger