While serving in World War I he played drums for John Philip Sousa's Navy band.
[1] Early in the 1920s, Berton played in Chicago bands, including those of Art Kahn, Paul Beise, and Arnold Johnson.
[1] Later in the decade, he played with Roger Wolfe Kahn, Don Voorhees, and Red Nichols, and worked extensively as a session musician.
In Los Angeles, Berton played with Abe Lyman and recorded in studios for film soundtracks.
[1] He served as director of Paramount Films's music division for a time, and worked in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.