- Dec 1 "Magic" Sam [Maghett], American blues guitarist ("Feelin' Good (We're Gonna Boogie)"), dies of a heart attack at 32
- Dec 4 Alceo Toni, Italian arranger (Vivaldi's "Four Season's" for piano four-hands), composer (Elegiac Quintet), and musicologist, dies at 85
- Dec 8 Vincenzo Davico, composer, dies at 80
- Dec 10 Franco Capuana, Itlalian opera conductor, dies of a heart attack on the podium while leading a performance of Gioachino Rossini's "Mosè in Egitto" in Naples, at 75
- Dec 10 Leigh Harline, American composer and conductor, dies at 62
- Dec 16 Leo Mathisen, Danish jazz pianist, composer, arranger, singer and bandleader, known as "The Lion" (Take It Easy; To Be Or Not To Be), dies at 63
- Dec 31 Salvatore Baccaloni, Italian operatic bass buffo singer (Metropolitan Opera, 1940-62), and actor (Merry Andrew; Rock-a-Bye Baby), dies at 69
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers