- 1836 Hans Georg Nägeli, Swiss composer, dies at 63
- 1887 Jules Francois Blasini, Curacaos pianist/composer, dies at 40
- 1916 Bernhard Scholz, composer, dies at 81
- 1918 Bertram Luard-Selby, British organist and composer, dies at 65
- 1937 Ivor Gurney, English composer and poet, dies of tuberculosis at 47
- 1950 Emile Enthoven, composer, dies at 47
- 1957 Artur Malawski, Polish composer, dies at 53
- 1958 Harry Redman, American composer, writer, and artist, dies on 89th birthday
- 1966 Noel Gallon, French composer, dies at 75
- 1974 Knudage Riisager, composer, dies at 77
- 1974 Robert Levine Sanders, American composer, dies at 68
- 1974 Farid al-Atrash [El-Atrache], Syrian composer, musician, virtuoso oud player, and actor (Akher kedba), dies of heart disease at 59
- 1977 Ivan Rezak, Czech composer, dies at 53
- 1988 Pablo Sorozábal, Spanish composer, dies at 91
- 1989 Lennox Berkeley, composer, dies at 86
- 1992 Nikita Magaloff, Russian/Swiss pianist, dies at 80
- 1999 Curtis Mayfield, American singer-songwriter and soul musician (Freddie's Dead, Superfly), dies from complications of type 2 diabetes at 57
- 2000 Paul Kont, Austrian composer, dies at 80
- 2004 Sigurd Køhn, Norwegian jazz musician, in 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (b. 1959)
- 2004 Aki Sirkesalo, Finnish musician, in 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (b. 1962)
- 2004 Mieszko Talarczyk, Lead singer/Guitarist of grindcore band, Nasum, in 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (b. 1974)
- 2005 Muriel Costa-Greenspon, American mezzo-soprano (b. 1937)
- 2007 Joe Dolan, Irish singer and entertainer (b. 1943)
- 2009 Felix Wurman, American cellist and composer, dies of Cancer at 51
- 2010 Teena Marie, American singer and composer (b. 1956)
- 2011 Sam Rivers, American jazz musician (exponent of free jazz), dies of pneumonia at 88
- 2012 Fontella Bass, American R&B and soul singer and songwriter (Rescue Me), dies from a heart attack at 72
- 2016 George S Irving [Shelasky], American broadway singer and actor (Dumplings), dies at 94
- 2018 Sono Osato, American Japanese ballet dancer and actress, dies at 99
- 2018 Theodore Antoniou, Greek conductor and composer (Paean, Celebration), dies at 83
December in History
Business a Rocky Road for Hansom Cab Pioneer
Architect and inventor Joseph Hansom was a man of vision who somehow found it impossible to turn his great ideas into money-making ventures.
December 23, 1834The Day Murdoch Spoilt the Queen's Christmas
Queen Elizabeth II made the first live Christmas Day broadcast of her reign on December 25, 1952. Forty years later a pre-recorded message would be leaked.
December 25, 1952'Hitler Will Have to Break Us or Lose the War'
The German Luftwaffe were hammering the British RAF until a furious and frustrated Hitler changed the plan and possibly the outcome of the war.
December 29, 1940The Taming of Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill made an emotional speech to the Canadian Parliament on this day, December 30, 1941. His photograph from that day is just as memorable.
December 30, 1941
