- 1600 Paul Hallmann, German composer, born in Friedland, Silesia (now Frýdlant, Czech Republic) (d. 1650)
- 1613 Cristoph Kaldenbach, Prussian poet, born in Schwiebus, Prussia (now Świebodzin, Poland) (d. 1698)
- 1720 Martin Gerbert, German composer, music historian and Benedictine abbot, born in Horb am Neckar, Duchy of Württemberg (now Germany) (d. 1793)
- 1744 Johann Gottlieb Schwencke, German bassoonist, born in Breitenau, Saxony (now Germany) (d. 1823)
- 1748 Joseph Schuster, German composer, born in DresdenSaxony (now Germany) (d. 1812)
- 1862 Carrie Jacobs-Bond, American singer, pianist, songwriter (I Love You Truly; A Perfect Day), born in Janesville, Wisconsin (d. 1946)
- 1863 Árpád Szendy, Hungarian pianist, composer, and educator, born in Szarvas, Hungary (d. 1922)
- 1867 Joe Weber, American vaudeville comedian, singer (Weber and Fields), and theatrical producer, born in New York City (d. 1942)
- 1873 J. Rosamund Johnson, American composer ("Lift Every Voice And Sing"), born in Jacksonville, Florida (d. 1954)
- 1880 Frederick Jerome Work, African-American composer, arranger (The Jubilee Singers), and music publisher, born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 1942)
- 1894 Wilhelm Grosz, Austrian pianist, conductor, classical composer (Afrika Songs), and popular songwriter ("Red Sails in the Sunset"; "Isle of Capri"), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1939) [1]
- 1900 Alexander Mosolov, Soviet composer (Iron Foundry; Four Newspaper Advertisements; Signal), born in Kyiv, Russian Empire (now Ukraine) (d. 1973)
- 1904 Jess Stacy, American jazz pianist (Benny Goodman, 1935-39; the Great Gatsby), born in Bird's Point, Missouri (d. 1995)
- 1909 Gaston Litaize, French organist (St François-Xavier, Paris, 1946-91), composer, broadcaster, and pedagogue, born in Ménil-sur-Belvitte, Vosges, France (d. 1991)
- 1915 Kunio Toda, Japanese composer, born in Tokyo (d. 2003)
- 1916 Benny Lee, Scottish singer and actor (Are You Being Served), born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 1995)
Mike Douglas (1920-2006)
American big band singer (Kay Kyser), and TV talk show host (The Mike Douglas Show, 1961-81), born in Chicago, Illinois
- 1925 Robert Linn, American classical composer and educator, born in San Francisco (d. 1999)
- 1926 Johnny Van Derrick, British jazz violinist (Pink Panther Theme), born in Ealing, England (d. 1995)
- 1927 Raymond Leppard, British-American harpsichordist, conductor (Indianapolis Symphony, 1987-2001; BBC Northern Symphony, 1973-80), and composer (Lord Of The Flies), born in London, England (d. 2019)
- 1928 Stan Kesler, American session musician (Sun Studio), songwriter ("I Forgot to Remember to Forget"), and record producer (Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs -"Wooly Bully"), born in Abbeville, Mississippi (d. 2020)
- 1929 Alun Hoddinott, Welsh composer (Floriture), born in Bargoed, Glamorganshire, Wales (d. 2008)
- 1929 Cora de Man-Canne Meyer, Dutch mezzo-soprano (Figaro, Carmen), born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 2020)
- 1930 Heinz Werner Zimmermann, German contemporary sacred music composer (Prosalieder; Missa profana), and educator, born in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany (d. 2022)
- 1931 Manabendra Mukhopadhyay, Bengali singer and composer (Ei Ganga ei Padda), born in Kolkata (d. 1992)
- 1933 Justin Connolly [D'Arcy-Dawson], British classical and electro-acoustic composer (Diaphony; The Garden of Forking Paths), and educator, born in London, England (d. 2020)
- 1933 Tamás Vásáry, Hungarian concert pianist and conductor, born in Debrecen, Hungary
- 1937 Allegra Kent [Iris Cohen], American ballet dancer (New York City Ballet), teacher, and author (Ballerina Swan), born in Santa Monica, California
- 1937 Barbara Smith Conrad, American operatic mezzo-soprano singer, and educator (Wagner Theater), born in Atlanta, Texas (d. 2017)
- 1938 Rainer Boesch, Swiss pianist, composer, improviser, and teacher, born in Männedorf, Switzerland (d. 2014)
- 1939 Attila Bozay, Hungarian composer, born in Balatonfűzfő, Hungary (d. 1999)
- 1939 Ronnie Dawson, American rockabilly guitarist (Rockabilly Hall of Fame, 1998), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 2003) [1]
- 1941 John Simon, American record producer (The Band), and singer-songwriter, born in Norwalk, Connecticut
- 1942 Mike Hugg, British rock drummer (Manfred Mann - "Mighty Quinn"), and film composer (Up The Junction), born in Gosport, Hampshire, England
- 1943 Denis Payton, British rock saxophonist (Dave Clark Five - "Glad All Over"), born in London (d. 2006)
- 1943 James Kale, Canadian rock bass player and songwriter (The Guess Who, 1962-72 - "American Woman"), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
- 1943 Kenny Gamble, American songwriter, and "Philadelphia Soul" producer, with Leon Huff (Billy Paul - "Me & Mrs Jones"; The O'Jays; Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 1943 Krzysztof Meyer, Polish pianist, composer, and music scholar, born in Kraków, Poland
- 1946 John Conlee, American country singer ("Common Man"), born in Versailles, Kentucky
- 1946 Michael Fonfara, Canadian rock and blues keyboard player (The Electric Flag; Lou Reed), born in Stevensville, Ontario
- 1947 Catherine Collard, French concert pianist (Schumann; Brahms), and teacher, born in Paris, France (d. 1993)
- 1949 Eric Carmen, American power pop singer songwriter (The Raspberries - "Go All The Way"; solo "All By Myself"), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 2024) [1]
- 1950 Erik Brann [Braunn], American violin prodigy and rock guitarist (Iron Butterfly - "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"), born in Pekin, Illinois (d. 2003)
- 1952 Bob Mothersbaugh, (aka Bob 2), American new wave rock musician (Devo - "Whip It!"), born in Akron, Ohio
- 1954 (David Ian) "Joe" Jackson, British singer-songwriter, and pianist ("Is She Really Going Out with Him?"; "Steppin' Out"), born in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England
- 1954 Juan Maria Solare, Argentine composer, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- 1954 Sinan Savaskan, Turkish-British contemporary classical music composer and educator (The Age of Analysis; Octandre Ensemble), born in Istanbul, Turkey
- 1957 Richie Ramone [Richard Reinhardt], American rock drummer (Ramones), born in Passaic, New Jersey
- 1957 Ross Halfin, British rock and heavy metal concert tour and portrait photographer, born in london, England
- 1959 Gustavo Cerati, Argentinian singer-songwriter (Soda Stereo), born in Barracas, Argentina (d. 2014)
- 1959 Martin Smolka, Czech contemporary classical composer (Observing the Heavens; Annunciation), born in Prague, Czechoslovakia
- 1963 Thornetta Davis, American blues singer, born in Detroit, Michigan
- 1964 Hamish Seelochan, British R&B and pop vocalist (The Pasedenas - "Riding on the Train"), born in England [some source cite birthday as May 19]
- 1967 Enrique Bunbury, Spanish singer
- 1968 Charlie Sexton, American guitarist and singer-songwriter (Arc Angels), born in San Antonio, Texas
- 1968 Veda Hille, Canadian singer
- 1969 Eddie Garcia, LA, actor/musician (Guys Next Door - "I Was Made For You")
- 1969 Jonah Matranga, American singer
- 1970 Andy Bell, English musician (Ride, Hurricane #1, Oasis)
- 1974 Hadiqa Kiyani, Pakistani pop star
- 1975 Chris Kelly [Mack Daddy], rapper (Kris Kross - "Warm It Up"), born in Teaneck, New Jersey
- 1975 Davey von Bohlen, American musician, (The Promise Ring, Maritime)
- 1975 Ronald Clarke, American musician and founder of aliennetwork Records
- 1976 Ben Gibbard, American singer-songwriter (Death Cab for Cutie; The Postal Service), born in Bremerton, Washington
- 1976 Brendan Bayliss, American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter (Umphrey's McGee), born in Annapolis, Maryland
- 1977 Gemma Hayes, Irish born singer
- 1981 Fiona Sit, Hong Kong singer and actress
- 1981 Sandi Thom, Scottish born singer
- 1993 Alyson Stoner, American actress and pop singer, born in Toledo, Ohio
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers