History Highlight:

In 2016, British pop singer George Michael — who first gained success as a member of Wham! and later launched a solo career — died in the early hours of Christmas Day at the age of 53.

Also, Today In:

1959 - An 18-year-old Richard Starkey, who later became known as Ringo Starr, received a drum set for Christmas.

1960 - A 12-year-old James Taylor received his first guitar as a Christmas gift.

1977 - The Sex Pistols performed for the last time in the U.K. until their 1996 reunion.

1994 - Green Day perform at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Billie Joe Armstrong performs wearing only his guitar and socks.

1995 - Rat Pack singer and comedian Dean Martin died of acute respiratory failure at his home in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 78.

2006 - The Godfather of Soul, James Brown died from congestive heart failure in Atlanta, Georgia at the age of 73.

2008 - “Santa Baby” vocalist Eartha Kitt died of colon cancer at her home in Weston, Connecticut. She was 81.

2009 - Singer-songwriter James Victor “Vic” Chesnutt died in an Athens, Georgia, hospital from an overdose of muscle relaxants that put him in a coma. He was 45.

2009 - Tyler, The Creator released his debut mixtape, Bastard.

2010 - Gorillaz released their fourth studio album, The Fall. It features “Revolving Doors.”

2010 - Alanis Morissette gave birth to her first child, a son named Ever Imre.

2020 - Playboi Carti released his second studio album, Whole Lotta Red.

Birthdays:

Cab Calloway was born on this date in 1907.

O’Kelly Isley Jr. of the Isley Brothers was born on this date in 1937.

Noel Redding of the Jimi Hendrix Experience was born on this day in 1945.

Jimmy Buffett was born on this day in 1946.

Merry Clayton, a soul and gospel singer featured on the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” is 77.

Country singer Barbara Mandrell is 77.

Annie Lennox is 71.

Robin Campbell of UB40 is 71.

Shane MacGowan was born on this date in 1957.

Alannah Myles, singer of “Black Velvet,” is 67.

Bob Stanley of St. Etienne is 61.

Jason Thirsk of Pennywise was born on this date in 1967.

Nicolas Godin of Air is 56.

Dido is 54.

Noel Hogan of the Cranberries is 54.

Drummer Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails, Devo, the Replacements, Foo Fighters) is 53.

DJ and producer Armin van Buuren is 49.

Jessica and Lisa Origliasso of the Veronicas are 41.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts and Wikipedia.