- May 1 Aram Khachaturian, Armenian composer (Masquerade Suite, Gayane), dies at 74
- May 16 William Steinberg, German-American conductor (Pittsburgh Symphony, 1952-76; Boston Symphony, 1969-71), dies at 78
- May 20 Ivan Harold Browning, American stage and screen actor and singer (Shuffle Along - "I'm Just Wild About Harry"), dies at 87
- May 22 Bjarne Brustad, Norwegian composer, dies at 83
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