Born: February 11, 1882

Died: December 08, 1967

Patriarch of the four sons who formed groundbreaking, six-decade jazz and pop quartet The Mills Brothers ("Cab Driver," #23, AC #3, 1968), the first African-American artists to have their own national network radio show (1930) and the first to have a #1 hit on the Billboard singles chart ("Paper Doll," 1943), replaced his deceased son, John Jr., after he died in 1936 and performed with the group until just prior to his own death on 12/8/1967, age 85.

Born: November 14, 1915

Died: December 08, 2006

Top-level swing and traditional pop vocalist with 24 Top 40 hits with Benny Goodman in the late 30s and another nine as a solo artist in the 40s, including "And The Angels Sing," (#1, 1939), survived the onslaught of rock 'n' roll by acting in movies (The Benny Goodman Story, 1955) and making appearances on radio and TV variety shows, died on 12/8/2006, age 91

Born: April 06, 1918

Died: December 08, 1981

Influential blues harmonica player frequently referred to as "Big Walter," session musician for Chess Records in Chicago in the 50s, played frequently with Muddy Waters, backed several notable blues musicians on their albums and issued four of his own, toured with Willie Dixon's All-Stars and made guest appearances on albums by Savoy Brown and Fleetwood Mac, died from heart failure and alcohol abuse on 12/8/1981, age 63

Born: October 27, 1924

Died: December 08, 2015

Pioneering country-pop, rockabilly and early rock 'n' roll singer and later TV show host with several crossover hits and the early rocker "Daddy O" (#14, 1955), dubbed "Queen" of the country music Midwestern Hayride program on NBC-TV through the early 70s, died in her sleep on 12/8/2015, age 91

Born: September 26, 1925

Died: December 08, 1982

Country music legend and crossover phenomenon, "El Paso" (#1, Country #1, 1960) plus 11 other Top 40 pop singles and 39 other Country Top 10 hits, died following a heart attack on 12/8/1982, age 57

Born: October 09, 1940

Died: December 08, 1980

Singer, songwriter, guitarist and founding member of The Beatles, with collaborator Paul McCartney co-wrote 21 US #1 hits, expressive if often neglected solo career, "Imagine" (#3, 1971) and 14 other Top 40 hits, social activist, sometime film actor, murdered outside his New York City apartment by a deranged fan on 12/8/1980, age 40

Born: December 10, 1941

Died: December 08, 2021

Vocals and oldest of five brothers in R&B/funk-disco Tavares with ten R&B Top 10 hits in the mid-70s, including the crossover "It Only Takes A Minute" (#10, R&B #1, 1976), left the band in 1984 to become a Massachusetts municipal court officer, retired in 2015 and rejoined his brothers in Tavares until his death from undisclosed causes on 12/8/2021, age 79.

Born: October 01, 1944

Died: December 08, 1988

Baritone vocals for a cappella The Persuasions, "Chain Gang" (1971), died while on tour with the group on 12/8/1988, age 44

Born: May 15, 1948

Died: December 08, 1975

Bassist for Brit jazz-pop-rock Keef Hartley Band, then hard rock Uriah Heep, "Easy Livin'" (1972) , died of a drug overdose 12/8/1975, age 27

Born: September 27, 1953

Died: December 08, 2021

Record producer, reggae bassist and, with creative partner Sly Dunbar, one half of the innovative studio duo Riddim Twins, produced albums for Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Bunny Wailer and others, recorded with multiple top acts, including Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger and Grace Jones, in all estimated to have had a part in over 200,000 recordings in a 45-plus year professional partnership, either on their own as a musical duo or as backing musicians or producers for other artists, died from complications following a kidney transplant on 12/8/2021, age 68.

Born: December 02, 1960

Died: December 08, 1984

Drummer for Finnish glam-punk-metal Hanoi Rocks, covered Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Up Around The Bend" (UK #61, 1984), died when a car driven by Mötley Crüe's Vince Neil crashed in L.A. on 12/8/1984, age 24

Born: August 20, 1966

Died: December 08, 2004

With brother Vincent Paul Abbott, co-founder and guitarist in thrash metal Pantera, "Planet Caravan" (Mainstream Rock #21, 1994) and supergroup Damageplan, "Save Me" (Mainstream Rock #16, 2004), died from gunshot wounds when a man stormed the stage and began firing shots at the band and crowd on 12/8/2004, age 38

Born: July 14, 1941

Died: December 08, 2021

Co-founder and saxophone for R&B/blue-eyed rock-and-soul Rare Earth, the first all-white Motown act to have a hit record, "Get Ready" (#4, R&B #20, 1970), followed with eleven other charting singles in the 70s, including "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (#7, R&B #20, 1970) and "I Just Want to Celebrate" (#7, R&B #30, 1971), performed with the band on stage and in the studio for six decades, appearing on every Rare Earth record ever recorded, and was the sole original member still standing at his death from complications of the COVID-19 virus on 12/8/2021, age 80.