Gary Benson

Gary Benson (born Harry Hyams) is an English singer and songwriter.

Benson spent eight weeks in the UK Singles Chart in 1975 with his own composition, "Don't Throw It All Away". The single, released on the State Records label (State Records STAT10), reached No. 20 in the chart, leading to an appearance on BBC Television's Top Of The Pops. The song had originally been recorded by The Shadows, and they had performed it in the 1975 A Song for Europe contest, where it finished fourth of six entries. The song was covered in the United States by The Delfonics in 1978. There are also a number of reggae versions that include a dancehall style cut by Barrington Levy. Olivia Newton-John recorded a version of the track, including it on her 1976 album Come On Over.

Benson had further attempts at winning the UK ticket to the Eurovision Song Contest, reaching the UK finals in 1977 with "After All This Time", performed by Wesley, Park and Smith, finishing fifth of 12; in 1981 with "All Cried Out", which he performed himself to place fourth of 8, and was later released on the WEA label; and in 1993 with "It's Just a Matter Of Time" performed by Sonia, finishing last of eight entries. Benson tried again in 1998 with Alan Glass on the song "Give It Up" performed by Lisa Millet which finished eighth of the eight songs in the preliminary radio heat.

In 1970 Benson's composition "Can't Afford To Lose", recorded by Jon Lukas, made it to the Top 40 charts in the UK and some other European territories. It also occupied the top place in the pop charts in Lebanon for a full month, holding back The Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road" from reaching the No.1 spot. Benson's song "Let Her In", oddly credited to both Gary Benson and Harry Hyams, was recorded by John Travolta in 1975. Another of Benson's compositions, "Close to You", was recorded by Maxi Priest. In 1977, he composed and sang "You", but it did not reach the UK charts.

• Reunion - (1970) Penny Farthing Records PELS506
• The Concert - (1973) Birth Records RAB 5, re-released in 2006 in Japan on CD AIRAC-1239
• Don't Throw It All Away - (1975) State Records ETAT3
• Gary Benson - (1975) Penny Farthing Records PELS548
• New World - (1976) State Records ETAT10
• The Gary Benson Story - (1977) State Records ETMP2
• Space Album - (1979)
• Moonlight Walking - (1980) Aura Records AUL172
• Rushing In To Love - (1983) Kenwood Records AW-25038 (Japanese release)