1930-12-31
Birth
Ala Odetta
Ala Odetta, [Odetta Holmes], Birmingham, folk singer/actress was born
On This Day in Music: December 31
Pick a date, get a soundtrack
Hear the music that defined any day.
Pick a date and press play — the day's milestones, the artists behind them, and a Spotify playlist you can hear right away, no login required.
Loading highlights...
Press play on history
The soundtrack for 2026-12-31
Hit play on the day — no login needed.
Cueing up the day's playlist...
Events and playlists update instantly.
Loading events...
1942-12-31
Birth
Andy Summers
Andy Summers, Blackpool England, rock guitarist (Police-Roxanne) was born
1959-12-31
Birth
Baron Waqa
Baron Waqa, Nauruan politician and musician was born
1979-12-31
Birth
Bob Bryar
Bob Bryar, American drummer (My Chemical Romance, Gerardolopoly) was born
1947-12-31
Birth
Burton Cummings
Burton Cummings, rock guitarist (Guess Who-These Eyes) was born
1948-12-31
Birth
Donna Summer
Donna Summer, Boston, singer (Love to Love You Baby, On the Radio), (d. 2012) was born
1874-12-31
Birth
Ernest Austin
Ernest Austin, composer was born
1894-12-31
Birth
Ernest John Moeran
Ernest John Moeran, British composer was born
1951-12-31
Birth
Fermin Goytisolo
Fermin Goytisolo, rocker (KC & Sunshine Band-Give It) was born
1724-12-31
Birth
Franz Joseph Oehlschlagel
Franz Joseph Oehlschlagel, composer was born
1826-12-31
Birth
Henry Hiles
Henry Hiles, composer was born
1943-12-31
Birth
John Denver
John Denver, NM, singer (Rocky Mt High), thank God he's a country boy was born
1972-12-31
Birth
Joseph Mulrey McIntyre
Joseph Mulrey McIntyre, rocker (New Kids-Lovin' You Forever) was born
1905-12-31
Birth
Jule Styne
Jule Styne, England, songwriter/composer (1954 Acad Award, 1968 Tony) was born
1902-12-31
Birth
Lionel Daunais
Lionel Daunais, Quebec singer and composer (d. 1982) was born
1973-12-31
Birth
Malcolm Middleton
Malcolm Middleton, Scottish musician (Arab Strap) was born
1940-12-31
Birth
Mani Neumeier
Mani Neumeier, German musician (Guru Guru) was born
1908-12-31
Birth
Marko Rothmuller
Marko Rothmuller, composer was born
1859-12-31
Birth
Max Fiedler
Max Fiedler, composer was born
1970-12-31
Birth
Michel Brunet
Michel Brunet, Gatineau Quebec, ice dancer (1996 Canadians-2nd) was born
1904-12-31
Birth
Nathan Milstein
Nathan Milstein, Odessa Russia, concert violinist (Phila Orch 1942) was born
1930-12-31
Birth
Odetta
Odetta, [Holmes], Birmingham Ala, folk singer (Sanctuary) was born
1978-12-31
Birth
Papoose
Papoose, American rapper was born
1959-12-31
Birth
Paul Westerberg
Paul Westerberg, singer (The Replacements) was born
1943-12-31
Birth
Pete Qualfe
Pete Qualfe, rocker was born
1922-12-31
Birth
Rex Allen
Rex Allen, Wilcox Az, cowboy singer (Dr Baxter-Frontier Doctor) was born
1846-12-31
Birth
Richard Kleinmichel
Richard Kleinmichel, composer was born
1947-12-31
Birth
Rita Lee
Rita Lee, Brazilian Rock Star was born
1928-12-31
Birth
Ross Barbour
Ross Barbour, Columbus Ind, singer (4 Freshmen) was born
1963-12-31
Birth
Scott Ian
Scott Ian, Queens, New York, American heavy metal guitarist (Anthrax-I'm the Man) was born
1899-12-31
Birth
Silvestre Revueltas
Silvestre Revueltas, Santiago Papasquiaro Mexico, composer (Sensemaya) was born
1799-12-31
Birth
Thomas Taglichsbeck
Thomas Taglichsbeck, composer was born
1951-12-31
Birth
Tom Hamilton
Tom Hamilton, Colorado Springs Co, rock bassist (Aerosmith-Dream On) was born
1904-12-31
Birth
Umm Kulthum
Umm Kulthum, Egyptian singer and actress (d. 1975) was born
1877-12-31
Death
Alberto Mazzucato
Alberto Mazzucato, composer, dies at 64
1950-12-31
Death
Charles Koechlin
Charles Koechlin, French composer (Jungle Book), dies at 83
1970-12-31
Death
Cyril M Scott
Cyril M Scott, English composer/author (Alchemist), dies at 91
1975-12-31
Death
Donal Michalsky
Donal Michalsky, composer, dies at 47
1916-12-31
Death
Ernst Rudorff
Ernst Rudorff, composer, dies at 76
1997-12-31
Death
Floyd Cramer
Floyd Cramer, pianist (Nashville Sound), dies of cancer at 64
1981-12-31
Death
Frantisek Chaun
Frantisek Chaun, composer, dies at 60
1809-12-31
Death
Franz Ignaz Beck
Franz Ignaz Beck, composer, dies at 75
1996-12-31
Death
Frederico Davia
Frederico Davia, opera singer, dies at 63
1968-12-31
Death
George Louis Francis Lewis
George Louis Francis Lewis, composer, dies at 16
1647-12-31
Death
Giovanni Maria Trabaci
Giovanni Maria Trabaci, composer, dies
1958-12-31
Death
Gustav Hermann Unger
Gustav Hermann Unger, composer, dies at 72
1802-12-31
Death
Hugo Franz Karl Alexander von Kerpen
Hugo Franz Karl Alexander von Kerpen, composer, dies at 53
1818-12-31
Death
Jean-Pierre Duport
Jean-Pierre Duport, composer, dies at 77
2000-12-31
Death
José Greco
José Greco, Italian-born American flamenco dancer and choreographer (b. 1918)
2002-12-31
Death
Kevin MacMichael
Kevin MacMichael, American guitarist (Cutting Crew) (b. 1951)
1986-12-31
Death
Lester Albert Trimble
Lester Albert Trimble, composer, dies at 63
1859-12-31
Death
Luigi Ricci
Luigi Ricci, composer, dies at 54
2007-12-31
Death
Markku Peltola
Markku Peltola, Finnish actor and musician (b. 1956)
1848-12-31
Death
Oliver Shaw
Oliver Shaw, composer, dies at 69
2011-12-31
Death
Omus Hirshbein
Omus Hirshbein, classical music impresario and music director, dies at 77
1954-12-31
Death
Peter Van Anrooy
Peter Van Anrooy, conductor/composer (Piet Hein Rhapsodie), dies at 75
1985-12-31
Death
Rick Nelson
Rick Nelson, singer/actor (Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet), dies at 45
1968-12-31
Death
Sabin V Dragoi
Sabin V Dragoi, composer, dies at 74
1969-12-31
Death
Salvatore Baccaloni
Salvatore Baccaloni, opera singer/actor (Full of Life), dies at 69
1960-12-31
Death
Semyon Semyonovich Bogatiryov
Semyon Semyonovich Bogatiryov, composer, dies at 70
1941-12-31
Death
Sigwart Aspestrand
Sigwart Aspestrand, composer, dies at 85
1984-12-31
Event
Def Leppard
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen loses his arm in a car crash
1879-12-31
Event
Gilbert & Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan's Opera "Pirates of Penzance," premieres in NYC
1907-12-31
Event
Gustav Mahler
G Mahler conducts the Metropolitan Opera
1923-12-31
Event
Harry Tierney
H Tierney/J McCarthy's musical "Kid Boots," premieres in NYC
1963-12-31
Event
Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia & Bob Weir played music together for the 1st time
1989-12-31
Event
Kurt Weill
"Threepenny Opera" closes at Lunt-Fontanne Theater NYC after 65 perfs
1970-12-31
Event
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney files a lawsuit to disolve the Beatles
Artist details
Loading artist details...