On This Day in Music: December 4

On December 4 in music history, 40 artists were born, 24 died and 10 other milestones happened, among them Jay-Z (1969), The Beatles (1964) and Led Zeppelin (1980).

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Highlights

December 4

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Standout moments for this date.

Jay-Z

Jay-Z, Brooklyn, New York City, American rapper (Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint) was born

The Beatles

Beatles release "Beatles For Sale" album

Led Zeppelin

2 months after death of drummer John Bonham, Led Zeppelin breaks up

Frank V Zappa

Frank V Zappa, US music/composer (Mothers of Invention), dies at 52

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Born on December 4

Alex North

Alex North, Chester Penn, composer (Spartacus, Viva Zapata) was born

Amie Comeaux

Amie Comeaux, American singer (d. 1997) was born

Andre Campra

Andre Campra, composer was born

Big Pokey

Big Pokey, American rapper was born

Bob Mosley

Bob Mosley, Paradise Valley CA, rock bassist (Moby Grape) was born

Brian Prout

Brian Prout, Troy NY, singer (Diamond Rio-Meet in the Middle) was born

Cassandra Wilson

Cassandra Wilson, jazz singer was born

Chris Hillman

Chris Hillman, San Diego Caliafornia, singer (Byrds-Turn Turn Turn) was born

Deanna Durbin

Deanna Durbin, Winnipeg Manitoba, actress/vocalist (100 Men & a Girl), (d. 2013) was born

Dennis Wilson

Dennis Wilson, Hawthorne CA, drummer/vocalist (Beach Boys-My Room) was born

Edgar Valcarcel

Edgar Valcarcel, composer was born

Ferry Corsten

Ferry Corsten, Dutch musician and DJ was born

Fred Armisen

Fred Armisen, American actor and musician was born

Freddy Cannon

Freddy Cannon, [Picariello], Lynn Ma, rocker (Palisades Park) was born

Gary Rossington

Gary Rossington, rocker (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rossington-Collins Band) was born

Herbert Groenemeyer

Herbert Groenemeyer, Germany, rocker (OE, Luxus, Chaos, Spruenge) was born

Herbert Hamilton Harty

Herbert Hamilton Harty, composer was born

Hynek Ignac Frantisek Vojacek

Hynek Ignac Frantisek Vojacek, composer was born

Jaclyn Victor

Jaclyn Victor, Malaysian singer was born

Jay-Z

Jay-Z, Brooklyn, New York City, American rapper (Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint) was born

Jean-Jacques Robson

Jean-Jacques Robson, composer was born

Jim Hall

Jim Hall, American jazz guitarist was born

Johann Gottlob Topfer

Johann Gottlob Topfer, composer was born

Kate Rusby

Kate Rusby, English folk singer was born

Larry Davis

Larry Davis, blues singer/guitarist was born

Lee Doraey

Lee Doraey, rocker was born

Lillian Russell

Lillian Russell, [Helen Leonard], US, singer/actress (Great Mogul) was born

Marianus Konigsperger

Marianus Konigsperger, composer was born

Masta Ace

Masta Ace, American rapper was born

Melesio Morales

Melesio Morales, composer was born

Michel Pignolet de Monteclair

Michel Pignolet de Monteclair, composer was born

Olawoyin Olufemi

Olawoyin Olufemi, Nigerian Musician was born

Paul-Heinz Dittrich

Paul-Heinz Dittrich, composer was born

Racci Shay

Racci Shay, American Musician was born

Rob Smits

Rob Smits, pop drummer (Kong/Phlegm) was born

Roman Semyonovich Ledenyou

Roman Semyonovich Ledenyou, composer was born

Sertab Erener

Sertab Erener, Turkish singer was born

Southside Johnny Lyon

Southside Johnny Lyon, NJ, rocker (Asbury Jukes-Don't Want Go Home) was born

Terry Woods

Terry Woods, Irish musician (The Pogues, Steeleye Span) was born

Yvonne Minton

Yvonne Minton, Australian soprano was born

Died on December 4

Alceo Toni

Alceo Toni, composer, dies at 85

Alice Mary Smith

Alice Mary Smith, composer, dies at 45

Benjamin Britten

Benjamin Britten, British composer (Beggar's Opera), dies at 63

Bob McGrath

Bob McGrath died

Chiung Yao

Chiung Yao died

Csaba Szigeti

Csaba Szigeti died

Daniel Gregory Mason

Daniel Gregory Mason, composer, dies at 80

Daniel Read

Daniel Read, composer, dies at 79

Dina Appeldoorn

Dina Appeldoorn, Dutch pianist/composer, dies at 54

Elena Souliotis

Elena Souliotis, Greek soprano (b. 1943)

Frank V Zappa

Frank V Zappa, US music/composer (Mothers of Invention), dies at 52

Gloria Lasso

Gloria Lasso, French-Spanish singer (b. 1922)

Gustav Hollaender

Gustav Hollaender, composer, dies at 60

Hubert Sumlin

Hubert Sumlin, American blues guitarist (b. 1931)

Johan Halvorsen

Johan Halvorsen, composer, dies at 71

Johann Georg Ebeling

Johann Georg Ebeling, composer, dies at 39

John Gay

John Gay, English poet (Beggar's Opera), dies at 47

Karl Merkatz

Karl Merkatz died

Manuel Göttsching

Manuel Göttsching died

Marcel Boereboom

Marcel Boereboom, Belgian musicologist, dies at 83

Nina Vasar

Nina Vasar, wife of Russian composer Dmitri Sjostakovitsj, dies

Pimp C

Pimp C, American Rapper (b. 1973)

Stonewall Jackson

Stonewall Jackson died

Tommy Bolin

Tommy Bolin, rock guitarist (Deep Purple), dies of heroin overdose

Releases & milestones on December 4

Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys released the album 'Live at the Royal Albert Hall'

David Shire

David Shire & R Maltby Jr's musical "Baby" premieres in NYC

Grandson

Grandson released the album 'Death of an Optimist'

Hollywood Undead

Hollywood Undead released the album 'New Empire, Vol. 2'

Led Zeppelin

2 months after death of drummer John Bonham, Led Zeppelin breaks up

Music Box

"Diary of Anne Frank" opens at Music Box Theater NYC

Shawn Mendes

Shawn Mendes released the album 'Wonder'

The Beatles

Beatles release "Beatles For Sale" album

Walter Donaldson

Walter Donaldson & Gus Kahn's musical "Whoopee" premieres in NYC

Yungblud

Yungblud released the album 'Weird!'

More standout moments in December →