Born: December 08, 1922

Died: June 01, 2015

The "Mother of Folk," singer, songwriter, dulcimer player, author and Appalachian music heritage stewardess whose influence on the commercial "folk revival" boom of the 60s was immeasurable, recorded nearly three dozen albums and wrote hundreds of original songs based on the traditions of Appalachia, explored the links between American and British folk music, toured extensively until her death from natural causes on 6/1/2015, age 92

Born: December 08, 1925

Died: May 16, 1990

Versatile TV and film actor, impersonator, dancer, "Rat Pack" contemporary pop singer and "member" with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, solo artist, "Candy Man" (#1, 1972), died of lung cancer on 5/16/1990, age 64

Born: December 08, 1925

Died: February 08, 2005

Jazz organist, Hammond B-3 electronic organ innovator and recognized virtuoso, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) jazz master, bandleader and composer, "Walk On The Wild Side" (#4, 1962), found dead in his home on 2/8/2005, age 79.

Born: December 08, 1939

Died: 0000-00-00

The "Man with the Golden Flute," Irish virtuoso flutist, "Annie's Song" (UK #33, 1978), played with Pink Floyd at the Berlin Wall in 1990

Born: December 08, 1939

Died: February 20, 2025

Known as "Iceman" for his cool, poised demeanor, original lead vocalist in Chicago R&B/doo wop The Impressions, co-wrote the group’s debut hit "Your Precious Love" (#11, R&B #3, 1958) but left in 1960 for a long and successful solo career with over 60 charting singles, among them "Only The Strong Survive" (#4, R&B #1, 1969) and 15 other Top 40 hits, the last in 1983, continued to perform on tour and in oldies festivals while serving as a member of the Chicago/Cook County Board of Commissioners from 1986 to 2018, died from complications of Parkinson’s disease on 2/20/2025, age 85.

Born: December 08, 1942

Died: 0000-00-00

Drummer in British Invasion pop-rock The Hollies, "Bus Stop" (#5, 1966)

Born: December 08, 1943

Died: July 03, 1971

Vocals and frontman for influential and controversial rock band The Doors, "Hello, I Love You" (#1, 1968), joined rock's 27 Club following a drug overdose in Paris, France on 7/3/1971, age 27.

Born: December 08, 1944

Died: 0000-00-00

Dutch singer and frontman for light pop-rock quintet George Baker Selection and two international hits, "Little Green Bag" (#21, 1969) and "Una Paloma Blanca" (#26, AC #1, Country #33, 1975), continued with a mildly successful solo career after disbanding the group in the late 70s

Born: December 08, 1944

Died: December 09, 2005

Drummer for soft MOR pop-rock Bread, "Make It With You" (#1, 1970) and session musician, died from colon cancer on 12/9/2005, age 61

Born: December 08, 1946

Died: 0000-00-00

Founding member and bassist for Scottish pop-rock The Marmalade, "Reflections Of My Life" (#10, 1970)

Born: December 08, 1947

Died: 0000-00-00

Drummer for early psychedelic rock quintet Blues Magoos, "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet" (#5, 1967)

Born: December 08, 1947

Died: May 27, 2017

The "Greatest White Blues Singer," co-founder, lead vocalist, keyboards and songwriter for Southern blues-rock The Allman Brothers Band ("Ramblin' Man," #2, 1973) plus nine solo albums and 15 singles ("I'm No Angel," Mainstream Rock #1, 1987) and a duet album with then-wife Cher (Two The Hard Way, 1977), died from liver failure on 5/27/2017, age 69.

Born: December 08, 1949

Died: March 30, 2023

Scottish bass guitarist and violinist with older brothers Ray and Derek in 60s psych-pop/rock Simon Dupree & The Big Sound ("Kites,” UK #9, 1967), then co-founding member with his brothers in innovative 70s Brit prog rock Gentle Giant (LP Free Hand, #48, 1975), left in 1980 and thereafter produced albums in the 80s and 90s for the Sugarcubes, the Sundays, Ian McCulloch and others, created video game soundtracks and released two trance EPs as Head-Doctor, died at home after a long illness on 2/20/2023, age 73.

Born: December 08, 1950

Died: March 22, 1994

Multi-instrumentalist member of the Edgar Winter Group, wrote "Free Ride" (#14, 1972), session musician, producer for multiple artists, solo R&B/soul-pop singer and songwriter, "I Can Dream About You" (#6, 1984), died from an AIDS-related brain tumor on 3/22/1994, age 43

Born: December 08, 1953

Died: 0000-00-00

Bass and backing vocals for Brit pop/rock novelty-party quartet Black Lace, "Avado" (UK #2, 1984), continues with incarnations of the band in the 00s

Born: December 08, 1956

Died: 0000-00-00

Guitarist in New Wave pop-rock Duran Duran, "Hungry Like The Wolf" (#3, 1982) and Missing Persons, "Walking In L.A." (Mainstream Rock #12, 1983)

Born: December 08, 1957

Died: 0000-00-00

Lead guitar for hard rock/Brit New Wave of Heavy Metal ("NWOBHM") band Def Leppard, "Love Bites" (#1, 1988)

Born: December 08, 1959

Died: 0000-00-00

Backing vocals, keyboards and dancer for Brit New Wave pop/rock Frankie Goes To Hollywood, "Relax" (#10, 1984)

Born: December 08, 1962

Died: 0000-00-00

Lead guitarist for trash metal Megadeth, "Trust" (Mainstream Rock #5, 1997)

Born: December 08, 1966

Died: 0000-00-00

Rapper and vocals for gangsta/horror-rap Geto Boys, "Mind Playing Tricks On Me" (#23, 1991)

Born: December 08, 1966

Died: July 26, 2023

Irish-born controversial folk-pop singer and songwriter with the early career international hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Worldwide #1, 1990), her music career stalled after a 1992 appearance on US TV’s Saturday Night Live during which she tore a picture of then Pope John Paul II to protest child abuse in the Catholic church, continued perform, record, participate in several collaborations with other musicians, and highlight human rights, racism, organized religion, and women's rights issues for the ensuing decades until her death at home from undisclosed causes on 7/26/2023, age 56.

Born: December 08, 1972

Died: 0000-00-00

Backing vocals, lead and slide guitar for Southern folk-rock Sister Hazel, "All For You" (#11, 1997)

Born: December 08, 1973

Died: 0000-00-00

Guitarist and singer for Grammy-winning alt metal/rap-metal Slipknot, "Duality" (Mainstream Rock #5, 2004) and Stone Sour, "Bother" (Mainstream Rock #2, 2002)

Born: December 08, 1973

Died: 0000-00-00

Dutch-born lead vocalist for euro-pop-dance Alice Deejay, "Better Off Alone" (Dance/Club #3, 1999)

Born: December 08, 1974

Died: 0000-00-00

Guitarist for New York alt/art-rock trio Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Gold Lion" (Alt Rock #14, 2006)

Born: December 08, 1982

Died: 0000-00-00

Contemporary R&B/soul singer and songwriter, "Epiphany" (R&B #14, 2009)

Born: December 08, 1984

Died: 0000-00-00

Country-pop crossover singer and songwriter, co-wrote Kenny Chesney's "Come Over" (#23, Country #1, 2012) and followed with his debut album Montevallo (#3, Country #1, 2014) and four Top 40 hits, including "Take Your Time" (#20, Country #1, 2014()

Born: December 08, 1950

Died: October 24, 2018

Widely-admired R&B, soul and funk guitarist known for his mastery of the "wah-wah" pedal, the tone-altering filter on electric guitars, parlayed a connection at Motown Records into a position on house-band the Funk Brothers, with whom he played on dozens of hit songs and albums by Michael Jackson, the The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye and others, later issued a solo album and did session work for Herbie Hancock, Barbra Streisand and Blondie, caught on with neo-solo and hip hop acts in the 90s and 00s and recorded with Alicia Keys, Maxwell and Me’shell Ndegeocello, among others, died from complications of a stroke on 10/24/2018, age 67

Born: December 08, 1942

Died: September 11, 2020

Six-decade performing artist, frontman for The Maytals and one of a select few who brought reggae music to a global stage, defining the fundamental blend of American jazz and soul with traditional Jamaican folk/mento music and socially-conscious lyrics over upbeat tempos, often labelled the "Father of Reggae" and first to use the term in a record on "Do The Reggay" (1968) but never achieved the recognition afforded to Bob Marley and other peers, continued to record and tour extensively until 2013 when a fan tossed a bottle on stage that caused a concussion, died from complications of the COVID-19 virus on 9/11/2020, age 77.