Craig Douglas, British pop icon of the 50s and 60s, dies at 85

Known for the hit “Only Sixteen” and the nickname “The Singing Milkman,” the singer passed away peacefully on September 4, 2026.

The British music scene has lost one of the great names of the pre-Beatles era. Singer Craig Douglas (the stage name of Terence Perkins) passed away last Friday, September 4, 2026, at the age of 85. The news was confirmed by his family, who stated that the artist died peacefully at his home on the Isle of Wight following a brief illness.

Born in Newport on August 13, 1941, the artist began his journey humbly: he worked delivering milk during his childhood and youth, which affectionately earned him the nickname “The Singing Milkman.”

His big break came in 1959 when his version of the song “Only Sixteen” reached the top of the British charts, outselling even the original version by Sam Cooke. Throughout his career, Craig scored nine Top 40 singles in the UK, including hits such as “Pretty Blue Eyes,” “A Hundred Pounds of Clay,” and “Teenager in Love.”

Craig Douglas also made his mark in cinema, starring in productions of the era like the film It’s Trad, Dad! (1962), and shared the stage with pop and rock legends. Even as decades passed, he continued to perform in concerts and on cruise ships, releasing his final musical project in 2011 (The Craig Douglas Project).

The British music scene has lost one of the great names of the pre-Beatles era. Singer Craig Douglas (the stage name of Terence Perkins) passed away last Friday, September 4, 2026, at the age of 85. The news was confirmed by his family, who stated that the artist died peacefully at his home on the Isle of Wight following a brief illness.

Born in Newport on August 13, 1941, the artist began his journey humbly: he worked delivering milk during his childhood and youth, which affectionately earned him the nickname “The Singing Milkman.”

His big break came in 1959 when his version of the song “Only Sixteen” reached the top of the British charts, outselling even the original version by Sam Cooke. Throughout his career, Craig scored nine Top 40 singles in the UK, including hits such as “Pretty Blue Eyes,” “A Hundred Pounds of Clay,” and “Teenager in Love.”

Craig Douglas also made his mark in cinema, starring in productions of the era like the film It’s Trad, Dad! (1962), and shared the stage with pop and rock legends. Even as decades passed, he continued to perform in concerts and on cruise ships, releasing his final musical project in 2011 (The Craig Douglas Project).

Celebrity Fanpage HKI mourns the loss of this pioneering talent and extends its condolences to his family, friends, and fans.