- May 1 Felix Hanemann, American rock bassist (Zebra), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
- May 1 Glen Ballard, American songwriter and record producer (Alanis Morissette; Michael Jackson; Wilson Phillips; Jack Wagner), born in Natchez, Mississippi
- May 2 Valery Gergiev, Russian conductor (Mariinsky Orchestra, 1988 -present; Munich Philharmonic, 2015-22; Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, 1995-2008), born in Moscow, USSR
- May 3 Bruce Hall, American rock bassist (Reo Speedwagon), born in Champaign, Illinois
- May 3 Gary Young, American rock drummer (Pavement), born in Mamaroneck, New York (d. 2023)
- May 8 Alex Van Halen, Dutch-American rock drummer (Van Halen - "Hot For Teacher"), born in Amsterdam The Netherlands,
- May 8 Andreas P. Nielsen, Danish author and composer, born in Kolding, Denmark (d. 2011)
- May 8 Billy Burnette, American rock guitarist (Fleetwood Mac, 1987-95), born in Memphis, Tennessee
- May 10 Alex Foster, American jazz and session saxophonist (SNL Band; Mingus Big Band), born in Oakland, California
- May 10 Steve Thomas, American drummer (Shooting Star - "Summer Sun"), born in Kansas City, Missouri
- May 12 Phil Beer, English multi-instrumentalist and composer (Show of Hands), born in Exminster, Devon
- May 14 Tom Cochrane, Canadian rock vocalist and guitarist (Red Rider - "Lunatic Fringe"), born in Toronto, Ontario
- May 15 Mike Oldfield, British musician and composer (Tubular Bells), born in Reading, Berkshire
- May 16 Richard Page, American singer and bassist (Mr Mister- "Broken Wings"; "Kyrie"), born in Keokuk, Iowa
- May 17 George Johnson, rocker (Brothers Johnson), born in Los Angeles, California
- May 18 (Feliciano) "Butch" Tavares, American R&B singer (Tavares - "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel"), born in Providence, Rhode Island
- May 19 Roddy Lorimer, Scottish session and touring trumpeter and flugelhorn player (Waterboys; Blur; Pete Townshend; Spiritualized; Dr. John), born in Glasgow, Scotland
- May 22 Stuart Elliott, British rock session drummer (Kate Bush; Alan Parsons Project; Al Stewart), born in London, England
- May 23 Rick Fenn, British rock guitarist (10cc - "I'm Not In Love"; "The Things We Do for Love"), born in Oxford, England
- May 24 Mark Rivera, American saxophonist, musical director (Billy Joel; Ringo Starr), and corporate entertainment provider, born in Brooklyn, New York
- May 25 Rich Alves, American country guitarist (Pirates of Mississippi - "Feed Jake"), born in Pleasanton, California
- May 28 Arto Lindsay, American guitarist, composer (Lounge Lizards; Ambitious Lovers), and producer (Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Lucas Santtana), born in Richmond, Virginia
Danny Elfman (70 years old)
May 29 American singer-songwriter (Oingo Boingo - "Weird Science"), and Emmy and Grammy Award-winning composer (The Simspons Theme; Good Will Hunting; Tim Burton films), born in Los Angeles, California
- May 29 Karla DeVito, American stage and screen actress and singer, born in Mokena, Illionis
- May 29 Rick Henderson, American singer (Mason Dixon - "Karen Comes Around"), born in Beaumont, Texas
About May 1953
How Old? 70 or 71 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Leap Year: No
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers