Only Sixteen is a remake of a Sam Cooke song which reached #28 on the Hot 100 in July 1959. Cooke (real name: Samuel Cook) wrote the song under the pseudonym Barbara Campbell. That was the maiden name of Cooke's wife. The song has been recorded by more than 30 artists including Gerald Alston, Terry Black, Junior English, Mud, the Heptones, the Persuasions, the Rockin' Devils, Sly & Robbie and Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes.
On December 11, 1964, Cooke was shot and killed by Bertha Franklin, manager of the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles. Cooke had checked into a room with Elisa Boyer, who fled after he tried to rape her. In trying to learn where Boyer had gone, Cooke threatened Franklin. Fearing for her life, she shot Cooke in the chest. His death was ruled a justifiable homicide, even though he had no weapon. Only Sixteen was one of 11 songs included on the Supremes' April 1965 album, We Remember Sam Cooke.