- Dec 1 Stéphane Grappelli, French jazz violinist who founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France, dies at 89
- Dec 2 Michael Hedges, American new-age guitarist, composer, and singer (Aerial Boundaries), dies in a car accident at 43
- Dec 6 Eliot Daniel, American composer (I Love Lucy theme), dies at 89
- Dec 9 Tamara Geva, Russian-born dancer and actress, dies at 91
- Dec 10 Gershon Kingsley [Götz Ksinski], German-American composer, electronic music pioneer, and Moog synthesizer player (Popcorn), dies at 97
- Dec 12 (Irving) "Mouse" Randolph, American swing jazz trumpeter (Cab Calloway Orchestra), dies at 88
- Dec 14 Kurt Winter, Canadian musician (The Guess Who), dies of kidney failure at 51
- Dec 16 Nicolette Larson, American rock vocalist (Lotta Love; Twins), dies from brain seizure at 45
- Dec 19 Jimmy Rogers, American blues musician (Muddy Waters' Band), dies at 73
- Dec 21 Amie Comeaux, American country music singer, dies at 21
- Dec 22 Johnny Coles, trumpeter, dies at 71
- Dec 25 Giorgio Strehler, Italian opera and theatre director, dies at 76
- Dec 27 Anthea Joseph, British music promoter, dies at 57
- Dec 27 Buxton Orr, Anglo-Scottish composer, dies at 73
- Dec 28 Henry Barraud, French composer, dies at 97
- Dec 31 Floyd Cramer, American Country Music Hall of Fame pianist ("Last Date"; "On the Rebound"), dies of cancer at 64
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