Musicians Born in May 1940

Ricky Nelson (1940-1985)

May 8 American pop-rock star ("Hello Mary Lou"; "It's Late"; "Garden Party") and actor (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet), born in Teaneck, New Jersey

May 9 Dick Morrissey, British jazz saxophonist, born in Horley, Surrey, England (d. 2000)
May 10 Arthur Alexander, American singer-songwriter ("Lonely Just Like Me"), whose songs were covered by The Beatles ("Anna"), The Rolling Stones ("You Better Move On"), and Bob Dylan ("Sally Sue Brown"), born in Sheffield, Alabama (d. 1993) [1] [2]
May 11 Ron Pellegrino, American electronic music composer, born in Kenosha, Wisconsin
May 12 Norman Whitfield, American songwriter and producer for Motown ("I Heard It Through the Grapevine"; "Just My Imagination"; "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"), born in New York City (d. 2008)
May 13 Richard Brooks, American soul singer (Impressions, 1958-62 - "Gypsy Woman"), born in Chattanooga, Tennessee
May 18 Mike Elliott, American jazz and session guitarist, and audio engineer, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2005)
May 19 (Milton) "Mickey" Newbury, American outlaw-country singer-songwriter, born in Houston, Texas (d. 2002)
May 20 (Frederick) "Shorty" Long, American soul singer, and pianist ("Devil with the Blue Dress On"; "Here Comes The Judge"), born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 1969)

Tony Sheridan (1940-2013)

May 21 British singer-songwriter and guitarist who collaborated with the pre-fame Beatles ("My Bonnie"), born in Norwich, England

May 26 Levon Helm, American drummer and singer (The Band - "Up On Cripple Creek"; "The Weight"), and actor (Coal Miner's Daughter; The Right Stuff), born in Elaine, Arkansas (d. 2012)
May 27 René Koering, French composer, film producer. theater director, and music promoter (Festival de Radio France et Montpellier), born in Andlau, France
May 28 Hans Dulfer, Dutch funk and jazz-fusion tenor saxophonist, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands
May 31 (August) "Augie" Meyers, American rock and Tex-Mex keyboardist, accordion player, singer-songwriter, producer (Sir Douglas Quintet; Texas Tornados), and record label owner, born in San Antonio, Texas