Merv Benton
Merv Benton (born Mervyn Bonson, 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 1966 Go-Set pop poll he was listed third most popular male vocalist. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described him as, "the epitome of the good-looking, clean-cut pop idol." In late 1966, Benton was diagnosed with laryngeal polyps; 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 Phoenix, Arizona after relocating there in 1991. Biography 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 ( Hadlow) and a sibling. Benton attended Preston High School and left to work as a trainee bank clerk. He took weekly singing lessons from Melbourne-based vocal teacher, Jack White. Benton started his singing career in October 1960 after a friend, Graeme Howie, entered him into a local talent quest. Upon