- Jul 1 Sandy Mosse, American jazz tenor saxophonist, and bandleader (Pieces of Eight), dies at 54
- Jul 4 Claus Adam, American composer and cellist (Juilliard Quartet), dies at 65
- Jul 5 Harry James, American swing-era bandleader, trumpeter and husband to Betty Grable, dies from lymphatic cancer at 67
- Jul 5 Václav Trojan, Czech composer, dies at 76
- Jul 10 Werner Egk, German composer (Die Zaubergeige), dies at 82
- Jul 12 Chris Wood, British rock saxophone and flute player (Traffic; Ginger Baker's Air Force, Jimi Hendrix), dies of pneumonia at 39
- Jul 12 Edwin Denby, American dance critic and poet (Snoring in N, Horse Eats Hat), dies at 80
- Jul 17 Roosevelt Sykes, American blues and boogie-woogie pianist, and singer ("The Honeydripper"), dies of a heart attack at 77
- Jul 23 Georges Auric, French composer (one of Les Six), dies at 84
- Jul 25 Jerome Moross, American composer (Frankie & Johnny), dies at 69
- Jul 30 Howard Dietz, American lyricist and librettist ("Dancing In The Dark"; "I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plans"), and MGM executive, dies of Parkinson's disease at 86
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers