Craig Douglas, the singer behind the famous hit Only Sixteen, has died at the age of 85. Craig, whose real name was Terence Perkins, became a prominent singer in the late 1950s and early 1960s. His version of Only Sixteen became a massive hit, even outselling Sam Cooke's original track.
His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully at home following a short illness. In a statement, they said: 'It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Craig peacefully passed away this afternoon. He will be greatly missed by myself, his family, and his close friends. Rest in peace, Craig.'
During his peak years, Douglas enjoyed immense success, with record sales that outpaced legendary stars like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. He also appeared in the 1962 film It's Trad, Dad! and performed at the Beatles' debut major stage show.
Douglas continued to entertain audiences for decades, performing in clubs, on cruise ships, and at venues across the UK. In 2024, reflecting on his life in an interview, he shared a personal regret: 'Well, I didn't get married to start with, which was a shame... I would have liked to have had a couple of children, but if I had, I'd miss them like mad while I was away.'