Smootmahooty
Photo Michael Ging
Tom Bertling – Singer Songwriter
smootmahooty
BIOGRAPHY(s)
TOM BERTLING – Lead Vocals, Song Writer, Acoustic & Electric Guitars
At the age of seven, Tom traded his brand new 007 Secret Agent Spy Case that he got for Christmas to a neighborhood
friend for a beat up acoustic guitar that had a large hole in the back. He came home and proudly showed the trade
to his parents, who immediately told him to take back the guitar and get his 007 spy case. Tom refused. When his
parents realized that he was not going to return the guitar, they put strings on it with the condition that he learn
to play the Marine Hymn, he did. He perfected his craft, sitting on the front porch for hours on end. Number 8 of 12
children, Tom was raised in Delphos, a small town in northern Ohio. Some of his earliest musical influences were
listening to his grandmother play guitar and sing old songs from the 20’s and 30’s, and tuning in to CKLW, an AM
radio station in the Windsor/Detroit area. With an appreciation for all kinds of musical styles, Toms’ original
music cannot be categorized. He writes a little bit of everything and he calls it “Mutt Music.” He has played in
smokey dark corners of more pubs, dives, and roadhouses than he can remember. Tom lived in Nashville for 7 years
and had the honor of playing on the Grand Ole Opry stage twice, and numerous showcase clubs such as The Bluebird
Cafe and Douglas’ Corner. The Nashville experience enabled him to live and work with some of the best song writers
in the industry. His unique guitar and vocal style has won him fans from around the world. It’s not uncommon to
hear such accolades as “What an incredible singer,” or “You wrote that song, why aren’t you famous?” He always asks
if they own a record company. The simple truth is, that he pursued the gift he was given and stayed true to the
dreams of his youth. He actually gets to do what he loves, play music full time, and get paid to do it. “It doesn’t
get any better than that!”
