December 

December 1:

Born:     Billy Paul (1934)

             Lou Rawls (1935)

             Sandy Nelson (1938)

             John Paul Densmore, The Doors (1944)

             Bette Midler (1945)

Events:   "Magical Mystery Tour" is released by The Beatles. (1967)

              Ken Berry, actor, known for his roles in "F Troop", “Mayberry RFD,” the spinoff of “The Andy Griffith Show,” and “Mama’s Family,” a spinoff of “The Carol Burnett Show.” dies at 85 (2018)

             Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, dies at 93 (2023)

December 2:

Gene Autry's song "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," hit the record charts.(1949)

No events

December 3:

Born:     Andy Williams (1928)

             Ozzy Osbourne (1948)

Events:  The Supremes were guest on "Tennessee" Ernie Ford's TV special. (1967)

             Elvis Presley's NBC-TV special Elvis was aired. (1968)

             John Lennon was asked to play the title role in Jesus Christ, Superstar. The offer was revoked the next day. (1969)

 December 4:

Born:     Freddy Cannon (1940)

             Chris Hillman, The Byrds (1942)

            Dennis Wilson, The Beach Boys (1944)

Events:  David Lander, actor, best known as "Squiggy" on the TV Show Laverne & Shirley, dies at 73 (2020)

  December 5:

Born:     Walt Disney (1901)

             Little Richard (1932)

Events:   The Beatles open the Apple Boutique. (1968)

                "Beggar's Banquet"byThe Rolling Stones is released; they throw one to celebrate. (1968)

               Beverly Garland (My Three Sons, The Scarecrow and Mrs. King) dies at age 81 (2008) 

               Dave Brubeck, jazz composer, dies at age 91 (2012)

               Nelson Mandella, former South African President and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela dies at 95 (2013)

                Jerry Naylor, musician, The Crickets, dies at 80 (2019)

                Robert Walker Jr., best known for a classic early Star Trek episode and as the son of Hollywood stars Robert Walker and Jennifer Jones, dies at 79 (2019)

                Kirstie Alley, actress, best known for Star Trek, The Wrath of Khan, Look Who's Talking and TV comedy series Cheers dies at 71 (2022)

                Norman Lear, screenwriter and producer, best known for his creattion of the shows All in the Family, Sanford and Son and Facts of Life dies at 101 (2023)

December 6:

Born:     Dave Brubeck (1920)

             Mike Smith, Dave Clark Five (1943)

             Jonathan King, singer (Everyone's Gone to the Moon) (1944)

Events:   The Rolling Stones concert at Altamont, California, results in the death of a fan by a Hells Angels beating which was caused by "protection for the band." (1969)

              Dobie Gray  best known for two big hits "The 'In Crowd'," and, much later, the much-covered "Drift Away." dies at age 71 (2011)

               Ron Leibman best known for his Tony award-winning performance in "Angels in America: Millennium Approaches" and his roles in "Norma Rae" and "Friends" dies at 82 (2019)

               Norman Lear,liberal television producer, best known for TV shows All in the Family, The Jeffersons and Maude dies at 101 (2023)

December 7:

Events:  Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was bombed by the Japanese which resulted in the United States entering World War II (1941)

              " I Want To Hold Your Hand" enters the singles charts at No. 1 for The Beatles in United Kingdom. (1963)

               Dennis Yost of the Classics IV (Traces of Love, Stormy, Spooky) passed away of respiratory failure,  at the age of 65. (2008)

               Harry Morgan (actor, December Bride, Dragnet , TV's  M.A.S.H) dies at age 96 (2011)

               Chuck Yeager, the first pilot in history to break the sound barrier, dies at 97 (2020)

December 8:

Born:     Sammy Davis Jr. (1925)

             Jerry Butler (1939)

             Jim Morrison (1943)

             Graham Knight, Marmalade (1946)

             Gregg Allman (1947)

Events:   John Lennon is assassinated. (1980)

              John Glenn (Marine Office, U.S. Senator, Astronaut who was the first American to orbit the earth dies at 95 (2016)

               Herb Cox, musician, The Cleftones, dies at 81 (2019)

               Rene Auberjonois, known for his roles in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Benson" and as Father Mulcahy in the 1970s film "M.A.S.H.," dies at 79 (2019) 

               Al Unser, 4-time Indy 500 winner, dies at 82 (2021)

               Ryan O'Neal, actor, best known for movie Love Story and TV series Peyton Place dies at 81 (2023)

December 9:

Born:     Sam Strain,Little Anthon and the Imperials, (1940)

Events:   Marty Robbins, who had recorded over 500 songs dies at 57  (1982)

              Roy Orbison dies at 52 (1988)

              Gene Barry, actor, (Bat Masterson, Burke's Law) dies at age 90 (2009)

              Eleanor Parker, actor, (played the barroness in Sound of Music) dies at 91 (2013)

December 10:

Born:     Chad Stuart, Chad and Jeremy (1943)

Events:   Otis Redding and three members of the Bar-kays die in a plane crash. (1967)

              Philip McKeon, best known for playing Tommy Hyatt on "Alice," dies at 55 (2019)

              Michael Nesmith, songwriter, muscian, a member of the Monkees dies at 78 (2021)

December 11:

Born:     Brenda Lee (1944

             Jermaine Jackson (1954) 

Events:   Sam Cooke was shot by mistake and dies at 33 (1964) 

               Andre Braugher, actor, best known for Brooklyn 99 dies at 61 (2023)

                                                  December 12:

Born:     Dionne Warwick (1941)

             Mike Pinder, The Moody Blues (1942)

Events:   "Promised Land" is released by Chuck Berry. (1964)

              Ike Turner, ex-husband of Tina Turner dies (2007)

              Tom Laughlin, actor (Billy Jack) dies at 82 (2013)

              Danny Aielo, actor, Godfather II, dies at 86 (2019)

             Charley Pride, Country music's first Black superstar's biggest songs included “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’,” and “Mountain of Love,” and 29 of his 52 top-10 hits rose to No. 1, dies at 86 (2020) 

December 13:

Born:     Tony Gomez, The Foundations (1940)

Events:   "Alice's Restaurant" by Arlo Guthrie is released. (1969)

              Zal Yanovsky,Lovin' Spoonful dies at 57 of congestive heart failure. (2002)

              Alan Thicke, actor, composer, writer, best known for the TV series "Growing Pains" dies at 69 (2016) 

December 14:

Born:     Charlie "Silver Fox" Rich (1932)

             Joyce Vincent, Dawn (1946)

             Patty Duke (1946)

Events:   Dinah Washington dies of a drug overdose at 39.  (1963)

              Billie Jo Spears country singer , most notably the #1 hit "Blanket on the Ground." dies at 74 (2011)

              Peter O'Toole, actor, (Lawrence of Arabria) dies at 81 (2013)

December 15:

Born:   Allan Freed (1922)

           Cindy Birdsong, The Supremes (1939)

           Dave Clark, Dave Clark Five (1942)

Events:   Walt Disney dies. (1966)

              Wanda Young, singer of Motown group, the Marvelettes  dies at 78 (2021)

                                                                  December 16:

Born:     Tony Hicks, The Hollies (1945)

Events:  The Lemon Pipers released the single "Green Tambourine." (1967)

 Ray Price, singer, songwriter, (Heartaches by the Number, For the Good Times) dies at 87 (2013)

             Colin Burgess, original drummer for AC/DC dies at 77 (2023)

December 17:

Events:    Denis Payton,  the saxophonist, also played the guitar and harmonica for the Dave Clark Five, dies at 63 after a long battle with cancer (2006) 

              Penny Marshall, actress, director, best know as Laverne DeFazio, on TV's Laverne & Shirley dies at 75 (2018)

 December 18:

Born:     Cas Chandler, The Animals (1938)

             Keith Richard (1943)

Events:    Zsa Zsa Gabor, actress dies at 99 (2016)

December 19:

Born:     Zal Yanovsky, Lovin' Spoonful (1944)

             John McEuen, The Dirt Band (1945)

December 20:

Born:     Bobby Colomby, Blood, Sweat and Tears (1944)

            Peter Criss, Kiss (1947

Events:   Bobby Darin dies during heart surgery at age 37 (1973)

December 21:

Born:     Carl Wilson, The Beach Boys (1946)

             Frank [Francis Vincent] Zappa (1940)

Events:   "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" charts, Bob Seger's first hit. (1968)

               Janis Joplin gives her first solo performance in Memphis TN (1968)

               Crosy, Stills and Nash begin their musical relationship in Los Angeles. (1968)

              Lee Dorman, bass guitarist, Iron Butterfly, dies at 70 (2012) 

December 22:

Born:     Robin Gibb, The Bee Gees (1949)

             Maurice Gibb, The Bee Gees (1949)

Events:   "Telstar" by The Tornadoes, becomes the first record by an English band to hit No. 1 on the charts in the United States. (1962)

             Joe Cocker, English Rock and Roll, Blues singer dies at 70 (2014)

             Rip Taylor, comedian, The Gong Show, Hollywood Squares, The $1.98 Beauty Show dies at 84 (2019)

  December 23:

Born:     Esther Phillips (1935)

             Jorma Kaukonen, Hot Tuna (1940)

             Ron Busby, Iron Butterfly (1945)

             Johnny Contardo, Sha Na Na (1951)

Events:   Jack Webb of Dragnet  fame dies from heart failure. (1982)

December 24:

Born:     Cab Calloway (1907)

             Lee Dorsey, singer (Workin' In A Coalmine, Ya Ya) (1924)

Events:    Charles Durning, the king of character actors, (Dog Day Afternoon, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, dies at 89 (2012)

               Jack Klugman, actor, (played Oscar on TV series The Odd Couple and first appeared on The Twilight Zone) dies at 90 (2012)

                Dick Orkin, DJ and creator of Chickenman and The Tooth Fairy series that was heard across the U.S. on many radio networks dies at 84 (2017) 

December 25:

Born:     Billy Horton, Silhouettes (1937)

             O'Kelly Isley (1939)

            Henry Vestine, Canned Heat (1944)

            Jimmy Buffett (1946)

Events:  Paul McCartney and Jane Asher announce their engagement. (1967)

             Dean Martin, singer, actor, dies at 78. (1995)

             James Brown dies at 73 (2006)

             Eartha Kitt, singer, actress (remembered for song Santa Baby, and as Catwoman in Batman TV series dies at age 81 (2008)

December 26:

Born:     Phil Spector (1939)

Events:   The movie, Magical Mystery Tour, by The Beatles, premieres on BBC-TV, in black and white. (1967)

               Fontella Bass, singer, Rescue Me, dies at 72 (2012)

               Sue Lyon, actress, best known in movie Lolita, dies at 73 (2019 

               Tom Smothers, one half of the comedy team The Smothers Brothers dies at 86 (2023) 

         
 December 27:

Born:     Leslie McGuire, Gerry and the Pacemakers (1941)

             Michael Pinder, The Moody Blues (1941)

             Pete Quaife, The Kinks (1943)

             Mick Jones, Foreigner (1947)

Events:  Delaney Bramlett (Delaney & Bonnie) "A Never Ending Love Song" dies at age 69 (2008)

              Carrie Fisher, actress, author, best know as Princess Leia of the Star Wars movie series dies at 60 (2016)

December 28:

Born:     Dorsey Burnette (1932)

             Bobby Comstock (1943)

             Edgar Winter (1947)

             Alex Chilton, The Box Tops (1950)

Events:   Dennis Wilson, The Beach Boys drowns at 39. (1983)

              Debbie Reynolds, actress, dies one day following death of daughter Carrie Fisher (2016)

              Rose Marie, comedian, actress, best known as character Sally Rogers in The Dick Van Dyke Show dies at 94 (2017)

               John Madden, Legendary coach and NFL broadcaster, dies at 85 (2021) 

December 29:

Born:     Ray Thomas, The Moody Blues (1942)

             Yvonne Elliman (1951)

Events:   Tim Hardin dies of a drug overdose. (1980)

               Robert Lee Dickey, member of the Rhythm & Blues duo, Bobby & James Purify dies at 72 (2011)

December 30:

Born:     Bo Diddley [Ellis McDaniels] (1928)    

             Skeeter Davis (1931)

             Del Shannon (1939)

             Davy Jones, The Monkees (1946)

Events:  Dawn Wells, actor, best known as Mary Ann on TV's Gilligan's Island dies at 82 (2020)

           Barbara Walters, a pioneer for women in broadcasting and Emmy Award winner dies at 93 (2022)

December 31:

Born:     John Denver (1943)

             Patti Smith (1946)

             Burton Cummings (1947)

             Donna Summer (1948)

            Tony Hamilton, Aerosmith (1948)

Events:   The Beach Boys give their first show with that name: they were Carl and The Passions. (1961)

                 Jimi Hendrix and Band of Gypsies [Buddy Miles and Buddy Cox] premiere at the Fillmore East and release a live LP of the show which is regarded as one of the best ever. (1969)

             Rick Nelson dies in a plane crash at 45. (1985)

             Betty White, film and TV actress, best known for The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls dies at 99 (2021)

              Cale Yarborough, legendary NASCAR driver dies at 84 (2023)