- Dec 3 Kishin Shinoyama, Japanese photographer, including album cover art (Saori Minami; John Lennon and Yoko Ono - Double Fantasy), born in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
- Dec 4 Freddy Cannon [Picariello], American rocker ("Palisades Park"), born in Revere, Massachusetts [some sources give year as 1936]
- Dec 6 Jay Leonhart, American session and touring jazz and pop double bassist and songwriter (The Bass Lesson), born in Baltimore, Maryland
- Dec 9 Sammy Strain, American pop and R&B singer (Little Anthony & The Imperials, 1958–72; 1992–2005 - "Hurt So Bad"; The O'Jays, 1975–1992 - "Use Ta Be My Girl"), born in Brooklyn, New York
Dionne Warwick (83 years old)
Dec 12 American singer ("I Say a Little Prayer"; "Do You Know The Way to San Jose"; "That's What Friends Are For"), born in East Orange, New Jersey
- Dec 16 Dimitri van Toren, Dutch singer-songwriter, born in Breda, Netherlands (d. 2015)
- Dec 19 Phil Ochs, American anti-war folk singer (Joe Hill; The War is Over; I Ain't Marchin' Anymore), born in El Paso, Texas (d. 1976)
- Dec 20 Larry Willis, American jazz pianist and composer, born in New York City (d. 2019)
Frank Zappa (1940-1993)
Dec 21 American rock guitarist, composer, (Mothers of Invention - "Peaches en Regalia"; "Baby Snakes"), activist, and filmmaker (200 Motels), born in Baltimore, Maryland
- Dec 21 Ray Hildebrand, American pop and contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter (Paul & Paula - "Hey Paula; Land and Hildebrand), born in Joshua, Texas (d. 2023)
- Dec 21 Tony Rivers [Thompson], British pop singer and vocal arranger (Harmony Grass; Cliff Richard), born in Shildon, England
- Dec 23 Eugene Record, American musician (Chi Lites - "Give It Away"; "Have You Seen Her"), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2005)
- Dec 23 Jorma Kaukonen, American rock guitarist (Jefferson Airplane; Hot Tuna), born in Washington, D.C.
- Dec 25 Pete Brown, British musician and lyricist (Cream - "I Feel Free"; "White Room"; "Sunshine of Your Love"), born in Ashtead, Surrey, England (d. 2023) [1]
- Dec 28 Alvin Singleton, American composer ("After Fallen Crumbs"; "Shadows"), born in Brooklyn, New York
- Dec 28 Lonnie Liston Smith, American jazz piano and keyboard player (Cosmic Echoes; Magic Lady), born in Richmond, Virginia,
- Dec 28 Neon Park [Martin Muller], American illustrator of album covers (Little Feat; Frank Zappa), born in Berkeley, California (d. 1993)
- Dec 29 Peter Koelewijn, Dutch rock musician and songwriter ("Get Off That Roof"), born in Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Dec 30 Jerry Granelli, American-Canadian jazz drummer (Vince Guaraldi Trio; Mose Allison), born in San Francisco, California (d. 2021)
- Dec 31 Bobby Notkoff, American rock and blues violinist (Crazy Horse; The Rockets), born in New York City (d. 2018) [1]
- Dec 31 Mani Neumeier, German musician (Guru Guru), born in Munich, Germany
About December 1940
How Old? 83 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: Yes
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Signs: Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21), Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers