- Dec 1 Felix Petyrek, Austrian composer, dies at 59
Mildred Bailey (1907-1951)
Dec 12 American jazz singer known as "The Queen of Swing" ("Rockin' Chair"; "Please Be Kind"; "Darn That Dream"), dies of heart failure at 44
- Dec 13 Selim Palmgren, Finnish concert pianist, composer (Hakkapeliittojen marssi), conductor, and pedagogue, dies at 73
- Dec 14 Coretté Alefred [Hardy], American-Russian-Soviet jazz, spiritual and pop lyrical and dramatic soprano, dancer, and actress, dies at 70
- Dec 15 María Grever, Mexican-American composer ("What A Difference A Day Makes" / "Cuando vuelva a tu lado"), dies at 66
- Dec 22 Powell Weaver, American composer, dies at 61
- Dec 23 Alfrēds Kalniņš, Latvian organist, composer (Baņuta), conductor, and pedagogue, dies at 72
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers