Craig Douglas was one of Britain's first
'Pop' singers. His achievement was really remarkable because he'd found a
musical niche that appealed to teenagers and to their mums and dads too-
sadly, it couldn't last. He was too lightweight to be considered rock and
roll and yet nor was he a 1950s style crooner. He had still been a milkman
when he got an opportunity to appear on TV's 'Six-5 Special' by winning a
talent contest. Through this he secured a recording contract with Decca,
but the two singles they issued were ignored. Luckily he was given a
second chance by the new 'Top Rank' record label. His early songs were,
almost without exception, covers of carefully selected material from
American artists of the time. He was extremely successful, and even
reached #1 with Sam Cooke's 'Only Sixteen' when the great man could only
struggle to #23 with the original.
Craig Douglas' pleasant singing voice maintained
its appeal until the onset of 'Merseybeat'. By this time he was singing
more original songs, but had not sufficiently changed his 'sound' to gain
new fans. He made one belated attempt at updating his style with 'Come
Closer' in 1964 which he recorded with a group calling themselves 'The
Tridents', but by early 1963 his chart career was over. However, Craig had
by then built up a sufficient repertoire of material to fuel an act on the
cabaret and nostalgia scene for many years to come.Craig Douglas' pleasant
singing voice maintained its appeal until the onset of 'Merseybeat'. By
this time he was singing more original songs, but had not sufficiently
changed his 'sound' to gain new fans. He made one belated attempt at
updating his style with 'Come Closer' in 1964 which he recorded with a
group calling themselves 'The Tridents', but by early 1963 his chart
career was over. However, Craig had by then built up a sufficient
repertoire of material to fuel an act on the cabaret and nostalgia scene
for many years to come.
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Craig Douglas was one of Britain's first
'Pop' singers. His achievement was really remarkable because he'd found a
musical niche that appealed to teenagers and to their mums and dads too-
sadly, it couldn't last. He was too lightweight to be considered rock and
roll and yet nor was he a 1950s style crooner. He had still been a milkman
when he got an opportunity to appear on TV's 'Six-5 Special' by winning a
talent contest. Through this he secured a recording contract with Decca,
but the two singles they issued were ignored. Luckily he was given a
second chance by the new 'Top Rank' record label. His early songs were,
almost without exception, covers of carefully selected material from
American artists of the time. He was extremely successful, and even
reached #1 with Sam Cooke's 'Only Sixteen' when the great man could only
struggle to #23 with the original.