Craig Douglas, the English pop singer best known for his 1959 chart-topper Only Sixteen, has died aged 85 after a short illness.
A spokesperson for the family said Douglas died peacefully at home on Friday, September 4, 2026. He had been living on the Isle of Wight after largely stepping away from the spotlight.
Born Terence Perkins in Newport, Douglas first became known as the “Singing Milkman” after working on a milk round before launching his music career. He was voted Best New Singer by the New Musical Express in 1959.
His version of Only Sixteen, recorded at Abbey Road Studios, reached number one in the UK and outsold Sam Cooke’s original recording. Douglas went on to enjoy a series of further hits, including A Teenager in Love and Town Crier, his final Top 40 single in 1963.
He also topped the bill at the Beatles’ first major stage show at Liverpool Empire Theatre and appeared in the 1962 film It’s Trad, Dad!.
Douglas continued performing in clubs, cabarets and on cruise ships for decades, including tours overseas. He retired in 2009 but returned for a final appearance at the Renown Pictures Film Festival in St Albans in 2019. ([aol.co.uk](https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/legendary-60s-popstar-craig-douglas-074341000.html))
