On This Day in Music: December 25

On December 25 in music history, 76 artists were born, 33 died and 5 other milestones happened, among them Annie Lennox (1954), James Brown (2006) and Jimmy Buffet (1946).

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December 25

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Standout moments for this date.

1954 Birth

Annie Lennox

Annie Lennox, Aberdeen Scotld, vocalist (Eurythmics-Sweet Dreams, Why) was born

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2006 Death

James Brown

James Brown, rhythm & blues, gospel, jazz, soul and funk singer or simply the Godfather of Soul (Genius of...

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1946 Birth

Jimmy Buffet

Jimmy Buffet, Mobile Alabama, vocalist (Margaritaville) was born

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1971 Birth

Dido

Dido, Kensington, London, pop singer and rap/dance music vocalist (Eminem's 'Stan', 'No Angel') was born

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Born on December 25

1955 Birth

Alannah Myles

Alannah Myles, Canadian singer was born

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1954 Birth

Annie Lennox

Annie Lennox, Aberdeen Scotld, vocalist (Eurythmics-Sweet Dreams, Why) was born

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1903 Birth

Antiochos Evanghelatos

Antiochos Evanghelatos, composer was born

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1775 Birth

Antun Sorkocevic

Antun Sorkocevic, composer was born

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1948 Birth

Barbara Mandrell

Barbara Mandrell, Houston Texas, singer/TV host (Mandrell Sisters) was born

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1929 Birth

Billy Horton

Billy Horton, rocker (The Silhouettes-Get a Job) was born

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1939 Birth

Bob James

Bob James, rocker was born

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1907 Birth

Cab[ell] Calloway

Cab[ell] Calloway, Rochester, bandleader (Minnie the Moocha, Jazzball) was born

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1929 Birth

Chris Kenner

Chris Kenner, rocker was born

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1837 Birth

Cosima Liszt

Cosima Liszt, wife of Austrian composer Richard Wagner was born

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1916 Birth

Daniel Devoto

Daniel Devoto, composer was born

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1962 Birth

Darren Wharton

Darren Wharton, British Keyboardist (Thin Lizzy and Dare) was born

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1938 Birth

David Borden

David Borden, composer was born

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1910 Birth

David Lichine

David Lichine, [Lichtenstein], Russian/US dancer (Make Mine Music) was born

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1952 Birth

Desireless

Desireless, French singer was born

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1971 Birth

Dido

Dido, Kensington, London, pop singer and rap/dance music vocalist (Eminem's 'Stan', 'No Angel') was born

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1941 Birth

Don Pullen

Don Pullen, pianist/composer was born

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1891 Birth

Earle Foxe

Earle Foxe, Oxford OH, actor (Dance Fools Dance) was born

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1918 Birth

Eddie Safranski

Eddie Safranski, Pitts Pa, orchestra leader (Jonathan Winters Show) was born

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1926 Birth

Enrique Jorrín

Enrique Jorrín, Cuban composer and musician (d. 1987) was born

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1825 Birth

Esteban Salas y Castro

Esteban Salas y Castro, composer was born

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1868 Birth

Eugenie Besserer

Eugenie Besserer, Watertown NY, actress (Jazz Singer) was born

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1972 Birth

Fantasia

Fantasia, [Tonya Manley], Detroit Mich, dancer/actress (Pump it Up) was born

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1883 Birth

Fran Lhotka

Fran Lhotka, composer was born

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1686 Birth

Giovanni Battista Somis

Giovanni Battista Somis, composer was born

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1900 Birth

Gladys Swarthout

Gladys Swarthout, Deepwater Missouri, mezzo-soprano (La Gioconda) was born

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1935 Birth

Gunter Friedrichs

Gunter Friedrichs, composer was born

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1646 Birth

Harald Vallerius

Harald Vallerius, composer was born

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1944 Birth

Henry Vestine

Henry Vestine, rock guitarist (Canned Heat-On the Road Again) was born

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1957 Birth

Jan Rot

Jan Rot, Dutch composer/writer (Wrong Nights) was born

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1908 Birth

Jan Seidel

Jan Seidel, composer was born

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1711 Birth

Jean-Joseph Cassenea de Mondonville

Jean-Joseph Cassenea de Mondonville, composer was born

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1984 Birth

Jessica Origliasso

Jessica Origliasso, Australian Singer (The Veronicas) was born

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1946 Birth

Jimmy Buffet

Jimmy Buffet, Mobile Alabama, vocalist (Margaritaville) was born

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1949 Birth

Joe Louis Walker

Joe Louis Walker, American musician was born

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1728 Birth

Johann Adam Hiller

Johann Adam Hiller, composer was born

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1831 Birth

Johann Herbeck

Johann Herbeck, composer was born

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1750 Birth

John "Christmas" Beckwith

John "Christmas" Beckwith, composer was born

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1601 Birth

Jose Ximenez

Jose Ximenez, composer was born

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1765 Birth

Joseph Mazzinghi

Joseph Mazzinghi, composer was born

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1972 Birth

Josh Freese

Josh Freese, American drummer was born

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1886 Birth

Kid Ory

Kid Ory, American musician (d. 1973) was born

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1922 Birth

Kitty Kallen

Kitty Kallen, Phila Pa, singer (Judge For Yourself) was born

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1665 Birth

Lady Grizel Baillie

Lady Grizel Baillie, Scottish songwriter (d. 1746) was born

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1912 Birth

Leighton Noble

Leighton Noble, singer/bandleader was born

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1985 Birth

Leon Pisani

Leon Pisani, Welsh singer was born

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1874 Birth

Lina Cavalieri

Lina Cavalieri, Italian soprano (d. 1944) was born

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1984 Birth

Lisa Origliasso

Lisa Origliasso, Australian Singer (The Veronicas) was born

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1923 Birth

Louis Lane

Louis Lane, Eagle Pass Texas, conductor (Oere Orch 1968-73) was born

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1934 Birth

McKinley Mitchell

McKinley Mitchell, US gospel/singer (The Town I Live In) was born

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1948 Birth

Merry Clayton

Merry Clayton, rocker was born

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1919 Birth

Naushad Ali

Naushad Ali, Indian music director (d. 2006) was born

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1971 Birth

Noel Hogan

Noel Hogan, musician (Cranberries) was born

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1945 Birth

Noel Redding

Noel Redding, rocker (The Jimi Hendrix Experience-Purple Haze) was born

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1915 Birth

Noelle de Mosa

Noelle de Mosa, Neth/British dancer/teacher (Brigadoon) was born

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1937 Birth

O'Kelly Isley

O'Kelly Isley, Cincinnati Ohio, singer (Isley Brothers-Twist & Shout) was born

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1583 Birth

Orlando Gibbons

Orlando Gibbons, English composer (O Clap Your Hands), baptized was born

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1829 Birth

Patrick S Gilmore

Patrick S Gilmore, composer was born

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1915 Birth

Pete Rugolo

Pete Rugolo, bandleader/arranger (Fugitive) was born

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1940 Birth

Peter Brown

Peter Brown, Chicago Il, rocker was born

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1859 Birth

Raoul Gunsbourg

Raoul Gunsbourg, composer was born

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1951 Birth

Ria Thielsch

Ria Thielsch, Dutch singer (Luv) was born

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1954 Birth

Robin Campbell

Robin Campbell, British reggae vocalist/guitarist (UB40-Red Red Wine) was born

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1941 Birth

Ronald Perera

Ronald Perera, composer was born

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1957 Birth

Shane MacGowan

Shane MacGowan, Irish musician was born

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1957 Birth

Shane McGowan

Shane McGowan, rock vocalist (Pogues-Red Roses For Me) was born

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1982 Birth

Shystie

Shystie, British rapper-songwriter was born

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1949 Birth

Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira

Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira, Singer and icon of the Brazilian music was born

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1945 Birth

Steve Mancha

Steve Mancha, [Clyde Wilson], US singer/songwriter (Too Many Cooks) was born

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1954 Birth

Steve Wariner

Steve Wariner, Noblesville Indiana, country singer (Small Town Girl) was born

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1815 Birth

Temistocle Solera

Temistocle Solera, composer was born

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1964 Birth

Tim Royes

Tim Royes - Music Video Director and Editor was born

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1913 Birth

Tony Martin [Alvin Morris]

Tony Martin [Alvin Morris], San Francisco, California, American singer (It's a Blue World, To Each), was born

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1943 Birth

Trevor Lucas

Trevor Lucas, rocker (Fairport Convention) was born

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1976 Birth

Tuomas Holopainen

Tuomas Holopainen, Finnish keyboardist and songwriter was born

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1912 Birth

Werner Fussan

Werner Fussan, composer was born

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Died on December 25

1922 Death

Alphonse Goovaerts

Alphonse Goovaerts, composer, dies at 75

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1765 Death

Antonio Tonelli

Antonio Tonelli, composer, dies at 79

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1842 Death

Bedrich Divis Weber

Bedrich Divis Weber, composer, dies at 76

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2005 Death

Birgit Nilsson

Birgit Nilsson, Swedish singer (b. 1918)

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1998 Death

Bryan MacLean

Bryan MacLean, American singer, musician and songwriter (Love) (b. 1946)

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1971 Death

Byron Arnold

Byron Arnold, composer, dies at 70

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1995 Death

Dean Martin

Dean Martin, singer/actor (Return to Me), dies at 78

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2024 Death

Dulce

Dulce died

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2008 Death

Eartha Kitt

Eartha Kitt, American actress and singer (b. 1927)

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2020 Death

Engin Nurşani

Engin Nurşani died

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1985 Death

George Rhodes

George Rhodes, orchestra leader (Sammy Davis Jr Show), dies at 66

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1921 Death

Hans Huber

Hans Huber, composer, dies at 69

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1930 Death

Harvey Worthington Loomis

Harvey Worthington Loomis, composer, dies at 65

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1943 Death

Ilona Durigo

Ilona Durigo, Hungarian singer, dies at 62

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2020 Death

Jaan Rääts

Jaan Rääts died

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2006 Death

James Brown

James Brown, rhythm & blues, gospel, jazz, soul and funk singer or simply the Godfather of Soul (Genius of Love, Hot Pants) dies at 73 from heart failure

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1848 Death