- May 5 Erbie Bowser, American blues and jazz pianist, born in Davila, Texas (d. 1995)
- May 6 Godfrey Ridout, Canadian composer, conductor, educator, and musicologist, born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 1984)
- May 7 Argeliers León, Cuban composer, born in Pinar del Río, Cuba (d. 1991)
- May 8 Nan Wynn [Masha Vatz], American radio and big-band singer (Rudy Vallée; Teddy Wilson), actress, and singing voice for Rita Hayworth, born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania (d. 1971) [1]
- May 13 T. Balasaraswati, Indian Bharatanatyam dancer, born in Madras Presidency, British India (d. 1984)
- May 15 Eddy Arnold, American country music singer ("Make The World Go Away"; "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye"), born in Henderson Tennessee (d. 2008)
- May 16 Aubrey Bowman, British pianist, composer, and conductor (Workman's Music Association), born in Bournemouth, England (d. 2009)
- May 17 (Märta) Birgit Nilsson, Swedish operatic soprano (Elektra; Salome), born in Västra Karup, Skåne, Sweden (d. 2005)
- May 23 Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, American bandleader, songwriter, and record producer (Little Richard; Sam Cooke), born in Seattle, Washington (d. 1985)
About May 1918
How Old? 105 or 106 years old
Generation: Greatest Generation
Leap Year: No
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers