Craig Douglas (born Terence Perkins) was a milkman from the Isle of Wight who specialised in medium-paced ballads, usually covers of American hits.
Craig was discovered by agent Bunny Lewis who sent him to London, where he signed to Decca, then EMI and had his first hit with a version of Teenager in Love which reached #13 (Marty Wilde had a version out at the same time). Within two months, Douglas hit the #1 spot with Only Sixteen, outselling Sam Cooke‘s original in Britain.
His cover version hits included Pretty Blue Eyes (#5 in 1960), A Hundred Pounds of Clay (#8 in 1961), When My Little Girl Is Smiling (#9 in 1962) and Oh Lonesome Me (#15 in 1962). Craig’s last hit was Town Crier in February 1963.
In 2008, Craig was diagnosed with Vasculitis and Type II Diabetes and became reliant on a wheelchair or walking aid.
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He found consistent UK chart success between 1959 and 1961. He featured in two films – It’s Trad, Dad! (1962) with Helen Shapiro, and The Painted Smile (1962) and at one time had top billing above The Beatles.
