Bendzko grew up in the Kopenick region of Berlin. As a youth he attended a sport gymnasium and played at the first FC Union Berlin football. Later he studied Protestant theology and non-Christian religions. His musical career began with guitar lessons. At age 16 he wrote his first songs. As a winner of a talent competition he performed in the summer of 2009 before 20,000 spectators at the Berlin Waldbuhne, one of Europe's largest concert venues.[3] Then he devoted himself entirely to his music. He received a recording contract with Sony Music and performed as an opening act for Silly on their 2010 tour.

On 17 June 2011 he released his debut album Wenn Worte meine Sprache waren ("If words were my language"), from which the single Nur noch kurz die Welt retten ("Just quickly save the world") was released on 27 May 2011. The video was produced by Hagen Decker, Los Angeles. The album reached number four in the German charts[4] and the single number two.[5] . The album, which sold over 300,000 copies, was awarded platinum status.

Bendzko performed as the opening act in Cologne and Leipzig on Elton John's tour of Germany, as well as being the support act for Joe Cocker during his Hard Knocks tour. On 29 September 2011, he came back to his hometown of Berlin for the Bundesvision Song Contest 2011 with the title track of his Album, Wenn Worte meine Sprache waren and won the competition. On 10 November 2011 he won the newcomer Bambi award.