December 8, 1939

1939Red Berenson, Canadian ice hockey player and coach^[†]

Gordon Arthur "Red" Berenson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre, world champion, Stanley Cup champion and head coach of the Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team from 1984 to 2017. Berenson was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

1939Jerry Butler, American singer-songwriter and producer (died 2025)^[†]

Jerry Butler Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and politician. He was the original lead singer of the R&B vocal group the Impressions, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. After leaving the group in 1960, Butler achieved over 55 Billboard Pop and R&B Chart hits as a solo artist including "He Will Break Your Heart," "Let It Be Me," and "Only the Strong Survive." He was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015.

1939James Galway, Irish flute player^[†]

Sir James Galway is an Irish virtuoso flute player from Belfast, nicknamed "The Man with the Golden Flute". After several years working as an orchestral musician, he established an international career as a solo flute player. In 2005, he received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music at the Classic Brit Awards.

1939Felipe Gozon, Filipino lawyer and businessman^[†]

Felipe Enrique "Henry" Lapuz Gozon, is a Filipino lawyer, business executive, and the current chairman and adviser of the board of GMA Network Inc., one of the largest media conglomerate in the Philippines.

1939Dariush Mehrjui, Iranian director, producer, and screenwriter (died 2023)^[†]

Dariush Mehrjui was an Iranian filmmaker, screenwriter, and a member of the Iranian Academy of the Arts.

1939Soko Richardson, American drummer (died 2004)^[†]

Eulis Soko Richardson was an American rhythm and blues drummer. His career spanned almost fifty years, during which he performed and recorded with seminal groups including John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. He is perhaps best known for his innovative arrangement of Ike & Tina Turner's version of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Proud Mary."