- Dec 1 Fred Rose, American songwriter and music publishing executive (Nashville's Acuff-Rose Music), dies of a heart attack at 57
- Dec 3 Enrique Soro, Chilean composer, dies at 70
- Dec 4 Nina Varzar, wife of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich, dies at 46
- Dec 20 Emilis Melngailis, Latvian choral composer, folklorist, and conductor (Latvian Song and Dance Festival), dies at 80
- Dec 25 Johnny Ace, American rhythm and blues singer, accidentally shoots himself in the head at 25
- Dec 25 Rosario Scalero, composer, dies at 84
- Dec 31 Peter Van Anrooy, Dutch conductor and composer (Piet Hein Rhapsodie), dies at 75