- May 5 Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, German composer and conductor (Hassan gewinnt), born in Berlin (d. 1973)
- May 14 Leo Smit, Dutch composer who died in a Nazi extermination camp, born in Amsterdam (d. 1943)
- May 17 Nicolai Berezowsky, Russian-American composer, born in St. Petersburg, Russia (d. 1953)
- May 27 Chester Zardis, American jazz 'slap-style' double-bassist, born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1990)
- May 28 Tommy Ladnier, American jazz trumpeter (Lovie Austin; King Oliver; New Orleans Feetwarmers; Noble Sissle; Sidney Bechet), born in Mandeville, Louisiana (d. 1939)
About May 1900
How Old? 123 or 124 years old
Generation: Lost Generation
Leap Year: No
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers