- Aug 4 Frankie Ford [Guzzo], American rock vocalist ("Sea Cruise"), born in Gretna, Louisiana, (d. 2015)
- Aug 6 (William) "Sonny" Sanders, American soul vocalist, songwriter, arranger and producer (Jackie Wilson), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2016)
- Aug 8 Philip E. Baisley, American country singer (Statler Brothers - "Class of '57"), born in Augusta, Virginia
- Aug 8 William Hibbard, American composer, musician and conductor, born in Newton, Massachusetts (d. 1989)
- Aug 9 Billy Henderson, American pop and R&B singer (The Spinners, 1954-2004 - "The Rubberband Man"), born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 2007)
- Aug 9 Max Neuhaus, American classical musician and experimental percussionist (sound sculptures), born in Beaumont, Texas (d. 2009)
- Aug 11 Attila Bozay, Hungarian composer, born in Balatonfűzfő, Hungary (d. 1999)
- Aug 11 Ronnie Dawson, American rockabilly guitarist (Rockabilly Hall of Fame, 1998), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 2003) [1]
- Aug 13 Howard Tate, American soul singer and songwriter ("Ain't Nobody Home"; "Get It While You Can"), born in Elberton, Georgia (d. 2011)
- Aug 15 Herman van Keeken, Dutch singer ("Daddy Don't Run So Fast"), born in Hilversum, Netherlands (d. 1995)
- Aug 15 Norma Waterson, British folk music revivalist, and singer-songwriter, born in Hull, East Yorkshire, England (d. 2022)
- Aug 16 Billy Joe Shaver, American country singer-songwriter (When I Get My Wings), born in Corsicana, Texas (d. 2020)
- Aug 16 Eric Weissberg, American singer and musician (Duelling Banjos), born in New York (d. 2020)
- Aug 17 Luther Allison, American rock guitarist ("Bad News Is Coming"), born in Mayflower Arkansas (d. 1997)
- Aug 18 Johnny Preston, American singer (Running Bear), born in Port Arthur, Texas (d. 2011)
- Aug 18 Maxine Brown, American soul and R&B singer and songwriter (It's All in My Mind), born in Kingstree, South Carolina
- Aug 19 [Peter] "Ginger" Baker, English drummer (Cream - "Sunshine Of Your Love"; "Toad"; Blind Faith - "Do What You Like"), born in London, England (d. 2019)
- Aug 21 Ernie Maresca, American singer and songwriter ("Runaround Sue"; "The Wanderer"), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2015)
- Aug 21 Harold Reid, American country bass vocalist (Statler Brothers - "Bed Of Rose's"), born in Staunton, Virginia (d. 2020)
- Aug 21 James Burton, American guitarist (Ricky Nelson; Elvis Presley; Elvis Costello), born in Dubberly, Louisiana
- Aug 22 Candido Lima, Portuguese composer, born in Viana do Castelo, Portugal
- Aug 26 Fred Milano, American doo-wop singer (Dion & The Belmonts), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2012)
- Aug 27 Edward Patten, American soul singer (Gladys Knight & the Pips), born in Atlanta, Georgia (d. 2005)
- Aug 28 Clem Cattini, British rock drummer (The Tornados), born in Stoke Newington, North London, England
- Aug 31 Jerry Allison, American rock drummer and songwriter (Buddy Holly & Crickets - "That'll Be The Day"; "Peggy Sue"), born in Hillsboro, Texas (d. 2022)
- Aug 31 Jim McCrary, American photographer and album cover artist (Tapestry: Ticket to Ride), born in Los Angeles (d. 2012)
- Aug 31 Paul Winter, American new age music saxophonist, composer, and bandleader (The Paul Winter Consort), born in Altoona, Pennsylvania
About August 1939
How Old? 84 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: No
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