- May 3 Gregory Bowen, Welsh big band jazz and session trumpet player (James Bond films), born in Llangennech, South Wales
- May 4 Stella Parton, American singer ("A Woman's Touch"), sister of Dolly Parton, born in Sevierville, Tennessee
- May 5 Raphael [Miguel Rafael Martos Sánchez], Spanish pop and ballad singer, born in Linares, Spain
- May 7 Rick West [Westwood], British rock guitarist (Brian Poole & Tremeloes, 1961-2012 & 2019-21), born in Dagenham, Essex, England
- May 8 Danny Whitten, American rock guitarist and songwriter (Crazy Horse; Rod Stewart - "I Don't Want To Talk About It"), born in Columbus, Georgia (d. 1972)
- May 8 Paul Samwell-Smith, British blues-rock bassist, and record producer (The Yardbirds, 1963-66 "For Your Love"), born in Richmond, Surrey, England
- May 9 Bruce Milner, American pop-rock pianist and organ player (Every Mother's Son - "Come On Down to My Boat"), and dentist, born in New York
- May 9 John Hugen Tobler, British rock music journalist and record company executive (ZigZag Magazine co-founder), born in England
- May 10 Judith Jamison, American dancer and choreographer (artistic director of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- May 11 Arnie Satin [Silver], American pop-rock singer (The Dovells - "Bristol Stomp"; "You Can't Sit Down"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- May 11 George Edwards, American composer, and educator, born in Wellesley, Massachusetts (d. 2011)
- May 11 Les Chadwick, British bassist (Gerry and the Pacemakers - "Ferry Cross The Mersey"), born in Liverpool. England
- May 12 David Walker, American rock guitarist (Gary Lewis & Playboys - "This Diamond Ring"), born in Montgomery Alabama
- May 13 Mary Wells, American pop singer ("My Guy"), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1992)
- May 14 (John) "Jack" Bruce, Scottish bassist and singer-songwriter (Cream - "Sunshine of Your Love"; "White Room"), born in Bishopbriggs, Scotland (d. 2014)
- May 14 Derek "Lek" Leckenby, British rock guitarist (Herman's Hermits), born in Leeds, England (d. 1994)
- May 14 Tania León, Cuban-American Pulitzer Prize-winning composer (Haiku; Scourge of the Hyacinths), conductor, arts advisor, and educator, born in Havana, Cuba
- May 20 Al Bano [Albano Carrisi], Italian-Albanian pop singer, actor, and winemaker, born in Cellino San Marco, Italy
- May 20 Tison Street, American violinist and composer (Jewel Tree), born in Boston, Massachusetts
- May 21 Hilton Valentine, British rock guitarist (Animals - "House of the Rising Sun"), born in North Shields, Northumberland, England (d. 2021)
- May 21 John Dalton, British rock bass player (The Kinks, 1969-76 -"Lola"; "Celluloid Heroes"), born in Enfield, Middlesex, England
- May 21 Vincent Crane [Cheesman], British rock Hammond organist, and songwriter (The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - "Fire"), born in Reading, Berkshire, England (d. 1989)
- May 23 Vicky Moscholiou, Greek pop singer (Hathike to feggari - The Moon is Lost; Ximeromata - Daybreaks), born in Metaxourgeio, Athens, Greece (d. 2005)
- May 25 Jessi Colter [Miriam Johnson], American country singer ("I'm Not Lisa"), born in Phoenix, Arizona
- May 25 John "Poli" Palmer, British rocker (Family), born in Evesham, Worcestershire
- May 25 Leslie Uggams, American singer and actress (Leslie Uggams Show; Roots), born in New York City
- May 26 John "Poli" Palmer, British Progressive rock keyboardist, and vibraphone player (Family -"In My Own Time"), born in Worcester, England
- May 27 Cilla Black [Priscilla White], British pop singer ("Anyone Who Had a Heart"), and TV personality (Blind Date), born in Liverpool, England (d. 2015)
- May 28 Dennis Riley, American composer (Masques (for wind quintet)), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1999)
- May 28 Elena Souliotis, Greek operatic soprano, born in Athens, Greece (d. 2004)
- May 28 Tony Mansfield [Anthony Bookbinder], British rock drummer (Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas - "Little Children"), born in Salford, Lancashire, England
- May 31 Wayne Carson, American country musician and songwriter ("Always On My Mind"), born in Denver, Colorado (d. 2015)
About May 1943
How Old? 80 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: No
Chinese Zodiac: Goat/Sheep
Star Signs: Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20), Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20)
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Opera Singers
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