301:, observed Benton was "the epitome of the good-looking, clean-cut pop idol." His vocal problems persisted for about 18 months – " never returned to full-time singing" – to resume working for a bank's public relations department. Benton relocated to Queensland in 1969 and became a real estate agent. Prior to relocating, he had entered a Melbourne recording studio, backed by the Fendermen. Benton issued a country music album,
294:(1966) in December. Raffaele observed, "If throat has in fact given up, I doubt if the musical world will grieve over much... I would willingly let him slip back into the Limbo which has claimed so many Australian rock singers." Despite Benton's infirmity W&G Records continued to release his singles into 1967.
215:
described Benton, "slim 5ft. 9½in., with brown hair and brown eyes, Merv is a newcomer to show business." With Rofe's promotion, the single was popular on
Melbourne radio, where it reached No. 17 on the local charts. In June Benton, backed by the Strangers, issued "Nervous Breakdown", previously
177:
Benton started his singing career in
October 1960 after a friend, Graeme Howie, entered him into a local talent quest. Upon winning with his rendition of "Don't Leave Me This Way", he met artist, manager, and promoter Brian de Courcy. De Courcy introduced Benton to instrumental pop group the Ramrods,
316:(1986). The Allstars comprised Allen on bass guitar, Les Stacpool on guitar, Henry Bource on saxophone, Ron Chapman on drums and Murray Robertson on keyboards. As a real estate agent, he began to manage the building of child care centres. Benton migrated to the United States in 1991, he settled near
251:'s 1963 single. For the recording, he was backed by the Tamlas, which comprised former band-mate Allen on bass guitar (ex-the Ramrods, the Planets) with Eddie Chappell on drums (ex-Checkmates), Charlie Gauld on guitar (ex-the Thunderbirds) and Noel Watson on guitar (ex-Tridents). According to
136:, 12 August 1942) was an Australian pop singer from the mid-1960s. His most popular singles were "Baby Let's Play House" (1964), "I Got Burned", "Yield Not to Temptation", "Don't Destroy Me" (all in 1965) and "You've Got What it Takes" (1966). For the
262:
it reached No. 18, nationally. Soon after the Tamlas line-up was
Chappell, Les Stacpool, Ron Gilbey on guitar and Dennis Tucker on bass guitar (ex-Rondells). Other popular 1965 singles were "Yield Not to Temptation" (August) (original by
201:. Session musicians were Mick Lynch on drums, Frank McMahon on bass guitar, Albert Stacpool on keyboards and his brother Les Stacpool on lead guitar (all members of the Chessmen). Also observing was local radio personality,
281:. According to a contemporary newspaper, " was advised to rest his voice for two months, but didn't because he 'didn't want to disappoint his fans'." De Courcy announced Benton's retirement in November 1966.
1293:"16 year old 'Teen Princes' Miss Maria Aurora Pijuan, from the Philippines, won a 10 day trip to Australia. In Melbourne she meet Merv Benton and Miss Lynne Randell from the popular teenage television show
274:, which were surgically removed with his subsequent recovery expected to take over six months. In October of that year, he was listed third most popular male vocalist on national teen pop newspaper,
270:
Benton's 11th single, "You've Got What It Takes", appeared in
February 1966 and was popular in Melbourne. The singer started having "a nagging throat problem." By August, he was diagnosed with
152:; the resulting treatment and recovery curtailed his music career. He became a real estate agent, and later organised the building of child care centres both in Queensland (until 1990) and in
869:
1159:
789:
164:
Merv Benton was born as Mervyn Bonson on 12 August 1942, in
Melbourne. He grew up with his parents Edward Bonson, a manufacturer and Rae Bonson (
1292:
247:
His sixth single, "I Got Burned" (May 1965), peaked at No. 13 in
Melbourne and also charted in Adelaide and Brisbane. It is a cover of
719:
784:
1344:
1041:
806:
941:
211:
1339:
191:
1299:
903:
320:
and worked as consultant-manager of an
American child care centre chain. As of 2003, Benton is married with four children.
954:
739:
174:
and left to work as a trainee bank clerk. He took weekly singing lessons from
Melbourne-based vocal teacher, Jack White.
1176:
794:
234:
1313:
1033:
275:
137:
1131:
1110:
1089:
1068:
148:, described him as, "the epitome of the good-looking, clean-cut pop idol." In late 1966, Benton was diagnosed with
484:
206:
197:
Early in 1964, while still working at the bank, Benton completed demo recordings with
Chester producing for
183:
1334:
1172:
1023:
252:
1329:
240:
179:
309:, noticed, " has the roughness o£ tone which marks Johnny Cash and the same sincerity of approach."
1209:
723:
283:
1037:
1028:
802:
472:
257:
171:
872:. Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions. Archived from
798:
317:
271:
153:
149:
812:
312:
Former bandmate Allen convinced Benton to record three vocal tracks for a five-track EP,
727:
998:
396:
338:
198:
187:
101:
1323:
1308:
1303:
780:
377:
298:
221:
217:
145:
109:
178:
which were led by Ian B Allen. Benton's early performances with the
Ramrods were at
672:"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
911:
264:
1264:
1235:
1204:
873:
248:
166:
971:
936:
205:. From the sessions, W&G issued Benton's first single, his rendition of "
1161:
The place of Go-Set in rock and pop music culture in Australia, 1966 to 1974
202:
1168:
686:
144:
he was listed third most popular male vocalist. Australian musicologist,
209:" in March 1964, also covered by Elvis Presley in 1955. Scarth Flett of
232:(1964). By November of that year, the artist had appeared on TV shows,
1271:. Vol. 45, no. 12, 678. 9 December 1970. p. 26
1213:. Vol. 41, no. 11, 529. 8 November 1966. p. 3
1242:. Vol. 41, no. 557. 10 December 1966. p. 12
817:
Note: McFarlane incorrectly shows Bonson as born in 1945.
978:. Vol. 32, no. 23. 4 November 1964. p. 90
1048:
Note: Chart positions back calculated by Kent in 2005.
1132:"Forum – 1967 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)"
1111:"Forum – 1966 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)"
1090:"Forum – 1965 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)"
1069:"Forum – 1964 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)"
945:. Vol. 31, no. 50. 13 May 1964. p. 10
290:
Garry Raffaele reviewed Benton's compilation album,
94:
84:
76:
68:
60:
40:
30:
23:
1199:
1197:
228:(September 1964) and a full-length studio album,
305:, in 1970 on W&G Records. Michael Foster of
1298:, photograph by Cliff Bottomley, 1966, held at
1130:Ryan (a.k.a. Bulion), Gavin (25 January 2013).
1109:Ryan (a.k.a. Bulion), Gavin (20 January 2013).
1088:Ryan (a.k.a. Bulion), Gavin (20 January 2013).
1067:Ryan (a.k.a. Bulion), Gavin (20 January 2013).
1001:. Pop Archives - Where did they get that song?
1018:
1016:
186:. He also sang in front of the Chessmen (see
8:
775:
773:
771:
769:
1230:
1228:
902:Wilkinson, Tony; Hayden, Bob (March 2004).
897:
895:
893:
891:
767:
765:
763:
761:
759:
757:
755:
753:
751:
749:
358:(compilation, 1966) – W&G Records
1279:– via National Library of Australia.
1250:– via National Library of Australia.
1221:– via National Library of Australia.
986:– via National Library of Australia.
863:
861:
859:
857:
855:
853:
851:
849:
847:
845:
843:
267:, 1962) and "Don't Destroy Me" (October).
20:
1259:
1257:
841:
839:
837:
835:
833:
831:
829:
827:
825:
823:
671:
1056:
1054:
966:
964:
454:
931:
929:
790:Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop
711:
170:Hadlow) and a sibling. Benton attended
1306:, Maria Aurora Pijuan, Merv Benton at
785:"Encyclopedia entry for 'Merv Benton'"
648:"Do It Again but a Little Bit Slower"
637:
608:
563:
492:
416:(January 1966) – W&G Records
1158:Kent, David Martin (September 2002).
466:
460:
434:(August 1966) – W&G Records
165:
72:Singer, bank public relations officer
7:
457:
425:(April 1966) – W&G Records
1175:. pp. 255–264. Archived from
693:. No. 5. Moonlight Publishing
407:(May 1965) – W&G Records
14:
1036:: Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd.
1180:(Portable Document Format (PDF))
870:"Merv Benton (& the Tamlas)"
726:. 12 August 2003. Archived from
220:. He followed with a four-track
156:after relocating there in 1991.
1029:Australian Chart Book 1940–1969
972:"Merv Can 'Bank on the Wails'!"
365:Great Country Songs (Movin' On)
258:Australian Chart Book 1940–1969
1300:National Archives of Australia
999:"Merv Benton – 'I Got Burned'"
443:(1986) – Allstar Records
441:Merv Benton with the All Stars
367:(1970) – W&G Records
349:(1965) – W&G Records
56:Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
1:
976:The Australian Women's Weekly
955:National Library of Australia
942:The Australian Women's Weekly
740:National Library of Australia
314:Merv Benton with the Allstars
212:The Australian Women's Weekly
1236:"Spokesmen for a generation"
1205:"Sang too soon—career over"
685:Mittelhauser, Dean (1999).
656:"Too Many Fish in the Sea"
579:"(I Do The) Shimmy Shimmy"
376:(compilation, 1984) –
1361:
937:"'Interest' in Bank Clerk"
663:
655:
647:
631:
623:
615:
602:
592:
586:
578:
570:
558:"Yield not to Temptation"
557:
550:
544:
537:
531:
521:
515:
507:
499:
482:
644:
632:"Who'll Be Next in Line"
599:
528:
479:
463:
1345:Musicians from Melbourne
1136:Australian Charts Portal
1115:Australian Charts Portal
1094:Australian Charts Portal
1073:Australian Charts Portal
1061:Australian Charts Portal
868:Kimball, Duncan (2002).
603:"You Got What It Takes"
395:(September 1964) –
374:The Fabulous Merv Benson
297:Australian musicologist
292:The Best of Merv Benton
1340:Australian pop singers
1173:University of Canberra
939:. Teenagers' Weekly.
516:"Come on and Get Me"
485:Baby Let's Play House
464:Peak chart positions
207:Baby Let's Play House
16:Australian pop singer
1302:. Depicts (L to R):
1265:"A swinging weekend"
815:on 1 September 2004.
664:"Lovin' up a Storm"
616:"The Worryin' Kind"
500:"Nervous Breakdown"
241:In Melbourne Tonight
1182:on 4 September 2015
914:on 10 February 2021
679:Recommended reading
571:"Don't Destroy Me"
356:Best of Merv Benton
303:Great Country Songs
172:Preston High School
1269:The Canberra Times
1240:The Canberra Times
1210:The Canberra Times
908:rockabillyhall.com
523:Come on and Get Me
494:Merv Benton's Hits
393:Merv Benton's Hits
335:Come on and Get Me
307:The Canberra Times
284:The Canberra Times
230:Come on and Get Me
799:Allen & Unwin
730:on 12 August 2003
676:
675:
539:Dollars and Dimes
532:"It's Love Baby"
405:Dollars and Dimes
238:(four times) and
182:Hall and Preston
124:
123:
1352:
1281:
1280:
1278:
1276:
1261:
1252:
1251:
1249:
1247:
1232:
1223:
1222:
1220:
1218:
1201:
1192:
1191:
1189:
1187:
1181:
1166:
1155:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1142:
1125:
1123:
1121:
1104:
1102:
1100:
1083:
1081:
1079:
1058:
1049:
1047:
1020:
1011:
1010:
1008:
1006:
994:
988:
987:
985:
983:
968:
959:
958:
952:
950:
933:
924:
923:
921:
919:
910:. Archived from
899:
886:
885:
883:
881:
876:on 16 March 2010
865:
818:
816:
811:. Archived from
795:St Leonards, NSW
777:
744:
743:
737:
735:
716:
702:
700:
698:
639:non-album single
624:"I'll Go Crazy"
610:More Merv Benton
455:
446:
437:
432:More Merv Benton
428:
419:
410:
401:
382:
370:
361:
352:
343:
318:Phoenix, Arizona
289:
272:laryngeal polyps
235:Sing, Sing, Sing
169:
154:Phoenix, Arizona
150:laryngeal polyps
87:
54:
50:
48:
33:
21:
1360:
1359:
1355:
1354:
1353:
1351:
1350:
1349:
1320:
1319:
1289:
1284:
1274:
1272:
1263:
1262:
1255:
1245:
1243:
1234:
1233:
1226:
1216:
1214:
1203:
1202:
1195:
1185:
1183:
1179:
1164:
1157:
1156:
1152:
1140:
1138:
1129:
1119:
1117:
1108:
1098:
1096:
1087:
1077:
1075:
1066:
1059:
1052:
1044:
1034:Turramurra, NSW
1022:
1021:
1014:
1004:
1002:
996:
995:
991:
981:
979:
970:
969:
962:
948:
946:
935:
934:
927:
917:
915:
901:
900:
889:
879:
877:
867:
866:
821:
809:
779:
778:
747:
733:
731:
718:
717:
713:
709:
696:
694:
684:
681:
545:"I Got Burned"
475:
453:
444:
435:
426:
417:
408:
399:
397:W&G Records
389:
380:
369:(WGB-26/S/5481)
368:
359:
350:
341:
339:W&G Records
331:
326:
287:
199:W&G Records
162:
127:
120:
85:
55:
52:
46:
44:
31:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1358:
1356:
1348:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1322:
1321:
1318:
1317:
1288:
1287:External links
1285:
1283:
1282:
1253:
1224:
1193:
1150:
1148:
1147:
1126:
1105:
1084:
1050:
1042:
1012:
997:Nuttall, Lyn.
989:
960:
925:
887:
819:
807:
781:McFarlane, Ian
745:
710:
708:
705:
704:
703:
680:
677:
674:
673:
669:
668:
665:
661:
660:
657:
653:
652:
649:
646:
642:
641:
636:
633:
629:
628:
625:
621:
620:
617:
613:
612:
607:
604:
601:
597:
596:
591:
588:
587:"We Got Love"
584:
583:
580:
576:
575:
572:
568:
567:
562:
559:
555:
554:
549:
546:
542:
541:
536:
533:
530:
526:
525:
520:
517:
513:
512:
509:
505:
504:
501:
497:
496:
491:
488:
481:
477:
476:
469:
468:
465:
462:
459:
452:
449:
448:
447:
438:
429:
420:
411:
402:
388:
387:Extended plays
385:
384:
383:
371:
362:
353:
344:
337:(1964) –
330:
327:
325:
322:
255:'s back-dated
188:Johnny Chester
184:Migrant Centre
161:
158:
126:Musical artist
125:
122:
121:
119:
118:
115:
112:
107:
104:
98:
96:
92:
91:
88:
82:
81:
78:
74:
73:
70:
66:
65:
62:
58:
57:
51:12 August 1942
42:
38:
37:
34:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1357:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1336:
1335:Living people
1333:
1331:
1328:
1327:
1325:
1315:
1311:
1310:
1309:The Go!! Show
1305:
1304:Lynne Randell
1301:
1297:
1296:
1291:
1290:
1286:
1270:
1266:
1260:
1258:
1254:
1241:
1237:
1231:
1229:
1225:
1212:
1211:
1206:
1200:
1198:
1194:
1178:
1174:
1170:
1163:
1162:
1154:
1151:
1137:
1133:
1127:
1116:
1112:
1106:
1095:
1091:
1085:
1074:
1070:
1064:
1063:
1062:
1057:
1055:
1051:
1045:
1043:0-6464-4439-5
1039:
1035:
1031:
1030:
1025:
1019:
1017:
1013:
1000:
993:
990:
977:
973:
967:
965:
961:
956:
944:
943:
938:
932:
930:
926:
913:
909:
905:
904:"Merv Benton"
898:
896:
894:
892:
888:
875:
871:
864:
862:
860:
858:
856:
854:
852:
850:
848:
846:
844:
842:
840:
838:
836:
834:
832:
830:
828:
826:
824:
820:
814:
810:
808:1-86508-072-1
804:
800:
796:
792:
791:
786:
782:
776:
774:
772:
770:
768:
766:
764:
762:
760:
758:
756:
754:
752:
750:
746:
741:
729:
725:
721:
720:"On This Day"
715:
712:
706:
692:
688:
687:"Merv Benton"
683:
682:
678:
670:
666:
662:
658:
654:
650:
643:
640:
634:
630:
626:
622:
618:
614:
611:
605:
598:
595:
589:
585:
581:
577:
573:
569:
566:
560:
556:
553:
547:
543:
540:
534:
527:
524:
518:
514:
510:
506:
502:
498:
495:
489:
486:
478:
474:
471:
470:
456:
450:
442:
439:
433:
430:
424:
421:
415:
412:
406:
403:
398:
394:
391:
390:
386:
379:
378:Raven Records
375:
372:
366:
363:
357:
354:
348:
345:
340:
336:
333:
332:
328:
323:
321:
319:
315:
310:
308:
304:
300:
299:Ian McFarlane
295:
293:
286:
285:
280:
278:
273:
268:
266:
261:
259:
254:
250:
245:
243:
242:
237:
236:
231:
227:
223:
222:extended play
219:
218:Eddie Cochran
214:
213:
208:
204:
200:
195:
193:
192:the Strangers
189:
185:
181:
175:
173:
168:
159:
157:
155:
151:
147:
146:Ian McFarlane
143:
141:
135:
134:Mervyn Bonson
131:
116:
113:
111:
108:
105:
103:
100:
99:
97:
93:
89:
83:
79:
75:
71:
69:Occupation(s)
67:
63:
59:
53:(age 82)
43:
39:
36:Mervyn Bonson
35:
29:
22:
19:
1316:, Melbourne.
1307:
1294:
1273:. Retrieved
1268:
1244:. Retrieved
1239:
1215:. Retrieved
1208:
1184:. Retrieved
1177:the original
1160:
1153:
1139:. Retrieved
1135:
1118:. Retrieved
1114:
1097:. Retrieved
1093:
1076:. Retrieved
1072:
1060:
1027:
1003:. Retrieved
992:
980:. Retrieved
975:
953:– via
947:. Retrieved
940:
916:. Retrieved
912:the original
907:
878:. Retrieved
874:the original
813:the original
788:
738:– via
732:. Retrieved
728:the original
724:ABC Adelaide
714:
695:. Retrieved
690:
638:
609:
593:
565:Sounds Great
564:
551:
538:
522:
493:
440:
431:
422:
413:
404:
392:
373:
364:
355:
347:Sounds Great
346:
334:
313:
311:
306:
302:
296:
291:
282:
276:
269:
256:
246:
239:
233:
229:
225:
216:released by
210:
196:
176:
163:
139:
133:
129:
128:
86:Years active
18:
1330:1942 births
1275:28 February
1246:28 February
1217:27 February
1186:27 February
1141:28 February
1128:1967:
1120:27 February
1107:1966:
1099:27 February
1086:1965:
1078:27 February
1065:1964:
1024:Kent, David
1005:27 February
982:26 February
949:26 February
918:25 February
880:25 February
734:28 February
697:28 February
594:We Got Love
552:Rockin' Hot
508:"Be Sweet"
423:We Got Love
414:Rockin' Hot
324:Discography
265:Bobby Bland
226:Merv Benton
130:Merv Benton
25:Merv Benton
1324:Categories
707:References
691:Let's Meet
445:(ASR 1001)
360:(WGB-2631)
351:(WGB-2494)
342:(WGB-1916)
253:David Kent
249:Ral Donner
180:Whittlesea
77:Instrument
47:1942-08-12
32:Birth name
1312:studios,
381:(RVLP 16)
244:(twice).
203:Stan Rofe
160:Biography
90:1960–1967
1169:Canberra
1026:(2005).
783:(1999).
436:(E-2707)
427:(E-2556)
418:(E-2555)
409:(E-2407)
400:(E-1976)
279:pop poll
142:pop poll
117:Canetoad
1171:, ACT:
451:Singles
106:Allstar
102:W&G
1167:(MA).
1040:
805:
467:Album
461:Title
329:Albums
277:Go-Set
224:(EP),
190:) and
140:Go-Set
132:(born
95:Labels
80:vocals
61:Genres
1314:ATV-0
1165:(PDF)
645:1967
600:1966
529:1965
480:1964
458:Year
288:'
138:1966
114:Rebel
110:Raven
1277:2022
1248:2022
1219:2022
1188:2022
1143:2022
1122:2022
1101:2022
1080:2022
1038:ISBN
1007:2022
984:2022
951:2022
920:2022
882:2022
803:ISBN
736:2022
699:2022
41:Born
635:94
627:82
619:47
606:45
590:50
582:56
574:34
561:29
548:18
535:70
519:65
511:52
503:67
490:47
473:AUS
167:née
64:Pop
1326::
1295:Go
1267:.
1256:^
1238:.
1227:^
1207:.
1196:^
1134:.
1113:.
1092:.
1071:.
1053:^
1032:.
1015:^
974:.
963:^
928:^
906:.
890:^
822:^
801:.
797::
793:.
787:.
748:^
722:.
689:.
667:—
659:—
651:—
487:"
194:.
49:)
1190:.
1145:.
1124:.
1103:.
1082:.
1046:.
1009:.
957:.
922:.
884:.
742:.
701:.
483:"
260:,
45:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.