- Dec 5 "Fat" Larry James, American drummer (Fat Larry's Band-Zoom), dies at 38
- Dec 6 Izler Solomon, American conductor, dies at 77
- Dec 10 (Leroy) "Slam" Stewart, American jazz double bass player, dies of congestive heart failure at 73
- Dec 10 Jascha Heifetz, Russian violinist, dies at 86
- Dec 12 Enrique Jorrín, Cuban charanga violinist and pop-dance music composer, considered the father of the cha-cha-chá, dies at 60
- Dec 12 Louis de Meester, Belgian pianist and classical and electronic music composer (The Great Temptation of St Anthony), dies at 83
- Dec 12 Truman "Pinky" Tomlin, American singer and actor (Sing While You're Able, With Love and Kisses), dies from a heart attack at 80
- Dec 18 Conny Plank, German record producer and musician, dies at 47
- Dec 22 Leonidas Zoras, Greek conductor and composer, dies at 82
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers