- Dec 4 Marcel Boereboom, Belgian pianist, critic, educator, and musicologist (Handbook of Music History), dies at 83
- Dec 12 Anne Baxter, American actress (The Razor's Edge; All About Eve), and singer, dies of a stroke at 62
- Dec 12 Ian Stewart, Scottish keyboardist, road manager, and co-founder of the Rolling Stones, dies of a heart attack at 47
- Dec 22 (Dennes) D. Boon, American punk rock singer and guitarist (The Minutemen), dies in a van accident at 27
- Dec 23 James Vance (20) and Raymond Belknap (18) attempt suicide (Belknap dies). Their families later sue rock group Judas Priest for subliminal messages in song "Better By You, Better Than Me".
- Dec 25 George Rhodes, American pianist, composer, arranger, and music director (Sammy Davis, Jr. Show), dies of a heart attack at 66
- Dec 28 Benny Morton, American jazz trombonist (Teddy Wilson Sextet), dies at 78
Ricky Nelson (1940-1985)
Dec 31 American pop-rock star ("Hello Mary Lou"; "It's Late"; "Garden Party") and actor (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet), dies in a plane crash at 45
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers