[1] Started as a flautist, Perera became one of the most influential singers in Sri Lankan pop music industry.
[3] Mervin Perera was born on 21 September 1940 in Kuda Payagala, Kalutara, Sri Lanka as the eldest of the family with seven siblings.
Under the guidance of the principal Francis Fernando of Payagala Roman Catholic School, Mervin got the opportunity to sit for the Jassy Musical Examination.
[1] He married Patricia Malini on 13 May 1971 and the couple had two sons: Amal and Sohan, and two daughters, Samanka and Nimesha.
His colleagues in the academy are Victor Ratnayake, Sarath Dasanayake, Wijeratne Ranatunga and Vincent Premasiri.
[6] During this period, Victor Ratnayake made his first Sarala Gee program in Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) where he sang the song written by Mervin Perera.
Later Mervin made the lyrics of Ratnayake's songs Soka Senasum Wedanawan and Paawe Walaa.
His song Oba Dedunna Akasaye penned by Premakeerthi de Alwis became an instant hit, where he stabilized as a professional singer.
[3] With that, he started to compose many solo hits, where his songs were written by KDK Dharmawardene, Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne and G. S. B.
[4] Mervin continued to compose songs for wide range of musicians including Priya Suriyasena, Punsiri Soysa, Neela Wickramasinghe, Rohan Shantha Bulegoda, Niranjala Sarojini, Edward Jayakody, Charitha Priyadarshani and Pradeepa Dharmadasa.
His composed the song Ashokamala Mammai Swamini for Chandralekha Perera, Pin Manda Putune for Vijaya Kumaratunga and Waw Bamme Na Turu Sewane.