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.
[5] Benton started his singing career in October 1960 after a friend, Graeme Howie, entered him into a local talent quest.
[3] De Courcy introduced Benton to instrumental pop group the Ramrods, which were led by Ian B Allen.
[3] From the sessions, W&G issued Benton's first single, his rendition of "Baby Let's Play House" in March 1964, also covered by Elvis Presley in 1955.
[2] In June Benton, backed by the Strangers, issued "Nervous Breakdown", previously released by Eddie Cochran.
"[3] By August, he was diagnosed with laryngeal polyps, which were surgically removed with his subsequent recovery expected to take over six months.
[3] Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane, observed Benton was "the epitome of the good-looking, clean-cut pop idol.
"[2] His vocal problems persisted for about 18 months – "[he] never returned to full-time singing" – to resume working for a bank's public relations department.
[2][3][13] Michael Foster of The Canberra Times, noticed, "[he] has the roughness o£ tone which marks Johnny Cash and the same sincerity of approach.
Benton migrated to the United States in 1991, he settled near Phoenix, Arizona and worked as consultant-manager of an American child care centre chain.