- Dec 2 Fifi D'Orsay [Yvonne Lussier] Canadian-American vaudeville and film actress and singer known as the "French Bombshell" (The Life Jimmy Dolan; Dixie Jamboree), dies from cancer at 79
- Dec 6 Lucienne Boyer, French singer (Parlez-moi d'amour), dies at 82
- Dec 11 Szymon Laks, Polish composer (head of prisoners orchestra at Auschwitz), dies at 82
- Dec 15 Jimmy McLin, American jazz banjo player, and guitarist (James P. Johnson; Willie "The Lion" Smith; The Ink Spots), dies at 75
- Dec 15 “Big Chief” Russell Moore, Pima-American jazz trombonist (Lionel Hampton; Louis Armstrong), and composer ("Wounded Knee Chant"), dies at 70
- Dec 27 Walter Scott, American singer (Bob Kuban), murdered at 40
- Dec 28 Dennis Wilson, American drummer and singer (Beach Boys), drowns at 39
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers