Tom Wurth is not an artist by accident.
He is an artist by choice.
His destination is his journey.

Tom Wurth grew up in Marcus, Iowa [population 1,500] where hard work was everything and nothing was for free. “I grew up in a Mayberry RFD kinda town. We were a middle class family and I was a farm kid. I walked beans, pulled sunflowers, sprayed the milkweed and fed the hogs. You name it, if it was a ‘chore,’ I did it, ” Tom introduces. “I learned from the get-go; if you want to achieve something, you’re gonna have to do the work and stay ‘constant.’”

Tom acknowledges his upbringing as an important thread in his character and artistry today. Both of his parents were teachers [K-8]. His mom was a music teacher at a Catholic school and his dad taught special education. He describes his mother as a genuine caregiver and lover of music, and his father as a Jack-of-all-Trades. “My dad was [and still is] a worker of wood and had his hands in the dirt. He makes mandolins and clocks. He loves to work in the gardens and with the farm animals. …And both of my parents play music.” Tom’s heritage translated into hard work and harmony. “I was taught that life is all about balance.”

Tom’s mom plays piano; his dad plays the guitar. So, he had one of two choices. Young Tom was home from school on a “snow day.” His father was sitting in the kitchen strumming the guitar. The inquisitive six-year old peaked around the corner with a wanting in his eyes. “My dad gave me two choices; to learn the piano or the guitar—one or the other. He taught me a chord and said, ‘now go and practice’, and practice I did--for about twenty minutes. I returned to the kitchen to tell him I was ready to learn more. I think he meant for me to be at it for at least a week!” That very day, Tom became a guitar player. “It was then that I knew, music was my ‘constant.’”

When Tom turned 10, he made his first public appearance at the Iowa State Fair. In high school, Tom wrote his first song, joined the choir and made it to the All-State competition. Upon graduation, Tom knew exactly where he was headed.

In Marcus, Iowa, where every father’s son had the sole ambition to work the family farm, Joe Wurth’s son had a different life calling. “Where I’m from there are no dance halls or honky tonks, so a ‘career’ in music was unheard of. While everyone else was planning to go to Ag school or Tech school, my head and heart was in the music.” Tom was headed to Nashville to enroll at Belmont University and begin his career in the music business.
That was HIS plan…

Tom’s plan met with tragedy. God had a different one. Just 24 hours after orientation at Belmont U, he was in a near fatal car crash that nearly left him paralyzed. “I remember the nurse telling me not to move or I would be paralyzed. I spent the first 3 days in a striker bed and they’d come in and rotate me like a chicken on a rotisserie.” Although his reminiscence at this time may appear to be light, the peril was heavy. Tom spent more than two months in bed. Time well spent--with Vince Gill, Steve Wariner…and GOD. “There are such things as angels. Vince Gill and Steve got me through it. I listened to their music every day, over and over again. And when I came to the realization that either I was going to walk or be in a wheel-chair, I had a long talk with God.”

“I told God that if he let me walk again, I would chase this [music] thing until I could walk no more.”

Tom Wurth walked out of the hospital.

His pact with God led him to his divine will. Tom moved to Nashville, attended Belmont University [in the same Music Business Program as Brad Paisley] and within four years, he not only landed a publishing deal (two actually), he earned a Grammy nomination.

Tom took a job at a publishing company [Aaron Brown Publishing] making tapes and working in the mailroom when he was afforded another opportunity that was totally unexpected. “I landed a recording gig when Aaron Brown showed up a writer’s night where I was playing. The next day, he asked if I would cut some demo’s for his publishing company and then he asked me to lay a few things down for a Lullaby project.” Tom recorded the lead vocals on a children’s project entitled LOVE SONGS AND LULLABYES FOR DADDY’S LITTLE DREAMER (Aaron Brown Publishing). The album was recorded in a week, and at 21 years old, Tom Wurth’s talents were recognized with a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Album for Children in the company of Linda Ronstadt, Tom Chapin and John McCutcheon. (1996)

“It was the first time the Grammy Awards show was held in Madison Square Garden.
I remember sitting in the audience with the other nominees in the category; Alison Krauss was sitting right behind me; I was thinking ‘I’m the only guy here nominated making $6.00
an hour in a mailroom.’”

Tom inked his first publishing deal with Belden Enterprises where he honed his skills as a songwriter such that he enticed an offer from a major publishing company--BMG Music Publishing. Tom has since written with a long list of accomplished songwriters including Bart Butler, John Ford Coley, Ken Mellons and John Jarrard.

“When it comes to song, I like to follow the Harlan Howard rule of thumb who said, he writes about what he knows and then lies a little. In that same vein, I like to be an observer. I write about real problems and real people--the people who confess to bartenders and to Jesus.’”

In 2002 Tom scored two major cuts including a co-write with David Frasier and Bill Luther entitled "If The Road Runs Out" recorded by Ty Herndon (SONY/Epic) and "I Can't Kick My Country" [written with Bart Butler and Ken Mellons]. Mellons cut the single for a NASCAR compilation CD entitled INSIDE TRAXX. (2002)

Tom moved on to perform as the “other half” of a duo initially called The Chase and later known as Mitchell and Wurth. The duo worked together for three years opening for a number of headlining acts (Rascal Flatts, Marty Stuart, Lonestar, Billy Dean, Clay Walker, Trick Pony, Ty Herndon, Shannon Lawson, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Chris Cagle) and the pair hosted JAM Against Hunger in 2001.

Today Tom Wurth is concentrating on his career as a solo artist. Stepping out on the center of the stage, he’s played casinos, festivals and some of the largest dance halls in the nation. He has shared the stage with mentor John Ford Coley, Ronnie Milsap, friend, Ken Mellons and Vince Gill, and opened for Jimmy Wayne.

“ Vince Gill gave me the best advice…
He told me I needed to decide whether I wanted to be an artist or an act.”

Tom Wurth is a country music entertainer who made the decision to become an artist not an act. His perseverance, persistence and labors have allowed him to come forward in the spotlight as a newcomer who has positioned himself to stay. His artistry can be described as the “old new school.” Incorporating the mood of the Blues, the staples of classical music and the structure of a traditional country song, Tom Wurth is a stylish vocalist, a warm voiced singer with full-bodied tone, who delivers the music of our time.

As a performer, Tom describes himself as a “sleeper.” “I’m not Mr. ‘GQ’ and I’m not an Abercrombie & Fitch model. But, I will give you my word---what you hear on stage is what you’ll hear on the record.”

His self-titled debut CD is a storybook filled with smooth musical conversations. The project is a body of work that can only be described as an assembly of personal short stories. With four co-writes, renowned song authors (Tim Johnson/Shane Minor/J.P. Pennington/Mark D. Sanders) and special appearances by Heath Wright (Ricochet), Sonya Isaacs and John Ford Coley, the collection features some toe-tappers, some body movers and some heartfelt melodic ballads supported by most personal confessions.

“If you really want to know who I am just listen to the record.
Every song has reflections of some point in my life.
Life is not one-dimensional.
Neither is this record.”

Tom’s “salt of the earth” character is transparent in his music. “When I recorded this album, I wanted it to be real. There’s nothing fabricated. I wanted it to be real enough to evoke some kind of emotion.”

Whether in celebration or love loss, TOM WURTH rings true. His music tugs at the “heart” of America. With an element of class and a killer smile, Tom Wurth has a nice guy persona; he is the boy next door, your best bud and every girl’s dream.

A contemporary country singer with traditional appeal, Tom Wurth is from the new class of classic country who is here to stay. He is the messenger--the storyteller of our time.

TOM WURTH~~His spirit is in it.

Tom Wurth has arrived at his destination.