- Dec 3 Mike D. Stone, American recording engineer (Frank Zappa, Joe Walsh, Bee Gees, America), dies of lymphoma at 68
- Dec 5 Johnny Hallyday [Jean-Philippe Smet], French singer and actor known as the "Elvis Presley of France," dies from lung cancer at 74
- Dec 7 James "Sunny" Murray, American jazz musician and drummer, dies at 81
- Dec 12 Pat DiNizio, American rock singer, songwriter and guitarist (The Smithereens - "Only A Memory"; "Blue Period"), dies from ill health at 62
- Dec 13 Warrel Dane, American singer (Nevermore -"Enemies of Reality"), dies of a heart attack at 56
- Dec 16 Keely Smith [Dorothy Keely], American jazz and pop singer (w/ husband Louis Prima -"That Old Black Magic"; "I Wish You Love"), dies from heart failure at 89 [1]
- Dec 17 Kevin Mahogany, American jazz vocalist ("Double Rainbow"; "Pride And Joy"), dies of diabetes complications at 59 [1] [2]
- Dec 18 Jonghyun [Kim Jong-hyun], South Korean singer-songwriter, radio host, and author (SHINee), commits suicide at 27
- Dec 19 Leo "Bud" Welch, American gospel and Delta blues singer-songwriter and guitarist ("You Can't Hurry God"; "Cadillac Baby"), dies at 85
- Dec 21 Roswell Rudd, American free-jazz trombonist (Archie Shepp) and avant-garde composer (New York Art Quartet), dies of prostate cancer at 82
- Dec 21 Wolfgang Ludewig, German composer, dies at 91
- Dec 25 Vladimir Shainsky, Soviet and Russian composer, dies at 92
- Dec 28 Rose Marie [Mazzetta], American actress, comedienne and singer (The Dick Van Dyke Show - "Sally"; The Doris Day Show), dies at 94
- Dec 31 Maurice Peress, American conductor (Kansas City Philharmonic, 1974-80), dies at 87
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