- Dec 15 Vinx [Parrette], American rock and world music percussionist and singer-songwriter (Sting; Jungle Funk), born in Fairfield, California
- Dec 18 John Webster, Canadian rocker (Red Rider)
- Dec 19 Doug Johnson, Canadian rock keyboardist (Loverboy - "Working For The Weekend"), born in Surrey, British Columbia
- Dec 20 (Stephen William) "Billy" Bragg, English singer-songwriter ("Greetings To The New Brunette"; "Sexuality"; "California Stars"), born in Barking, Essex, England
- Dec 20 Anna Vissi, Greek-Cypriot singer, born in Pyla, Cyprus
- Dec 20 Arturs Maskats, Latvian classical composer and music director (Dailes Theatre; Latvian National Opera, 1996-2013), born in Valmiera, Latvia
- Dec 20 Mike Watt, American rock bassist (Firehose), born in Portsmouth, Virginia
- Dec 20 Pat Fish [Huntrods], British guitarist (The Jazz Butcher), born in London, England (d. 2021)
- Dec 21 Tony Lewis, British rock singer-songwriter and bass player (The Outfield - "Your Love"), born in London (d. 2020)
- Dec 22 Richard "Ricky" Ross, Scottish rock vocalist (Deacon Blue), born in Dundee, Scotland
- Dec 23 Dan Bigras, Canadian rock singer, born in Montreal, Quebec
- Dec 24 Diane Tell, Canadian pop-jazz singer-songwriter, born in Québec City, Quebec
- Dec 24 Ian Burden, English rock keyboard player and bassist (Human League - "Don't You Want Me"), born in Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
- Dec 25 Jan Rot, Dutch composer (Wrong Nights; St. Matthew's Passion), born in Makassar, Indonesia
- Dec 25 Shane MacGowan, British punk rock musician (Pogues - "Red Roses For Me"), born in Pembury, Kent, England
- Dec 26 Guy Barker, British jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger (The Amadeus Project), born in Chiswick, London, England
- Dec 27 Daniel Levitin, American-Canadian cognitive psychologist, writer (This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession), record producer, and mnusician, born in San Francisco, California