- May 2 Doctor Robert [Bruce Robert Howard], Scottish singer-songwriter (The Blow Monkeys - "It Doesn't Have To Be This Way"), born in Haddington, Scotland
- May 4 Jay Aston, English singer (Bucks Fizz), born in Purley, Surrey
- May 7 Phil "Wizzö" Campbell, Welsh rock musician (Motörhead), born in Pontypridd, Wales
- May 10 Danny Carey, American drummer (Tool), born in Lawrence, Kansas
- May 11 Cecile Licad, Filipina concert pianist (Leventritt Award, 1981), born in Manila, Philippines
- May 11 David Ake, American jazz pianist (Humanities) and educator, born in New Haven, Connecticut
- May 12 Billy Duffy, British rock musician (The Cult), born in Manchester, England
- May 15 Melle Mel [Melvin Glover], American rapper (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five), born in The Bronx, New York
- May 15 Nichaud Fitzgibbon, Australian jazz singer, born in Wycheproof, Australia
Enya (62 years old)
May 17 Irish singer and songwriter ("Orinoco Flow"; "Carribbean Blue"; "Only Time"), born in Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland
- May 18 Hugh Whitaker, British rock drummer (The Housemartins), born in England
- May 19 Ronan Hardiman, Irish composer (Michael Flatley soundtracks), born in Dublin, Ireland
- May 20 Kit Clarke, Scottish rocker (Danny Wilson - "Mary's Prayer"), born in Dundee, Scotland
- May 20 Nick Heyward, British rock guitarist and vocalist (Haircut 100 - "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)"), born in Becjenham, Kent, England
- May 21 Tim Lever, British rock keyboardist (Dead or Alive - "You Spin Me Round"), born in Liverpool, England
- May 22 Dana Williams, American singer (Diamond Rio - Meet in the Middle), born in Dayton, Ohio
- May 28 Roland Gift, British pop-rock singer (Fine Young Cannibals - "She Drives Me Crazy"), and actor, born in Sparkhill, Birmingham, England
- May 29 David Palmer, British drummer (ABC - The Lexicon Of Love), born in Chesterfield, England
- May 29 John Miceli, American rock drummer (Meat Loaf), born in Long Island, New York
Melissa Etheridge (62 years old)
May 29 American Grammy and Academy Award-winning rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (Never Enough; Come To My Window), born in Leavenworth, Kansas
About May 1961
How Old? 62 or 63 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Leap Year: No
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers