- Aug 2 Roger Vuataz, Swiss organist, conductor, and composer, dies at 90
- Aug 8 Félix Leclerc, French Canadian singer and composer (Moi, mes souliers), dies at 74
- Aug 9 Giacinto Scelsi, Italian composer and surrealist poet, dies at 83
- Aug 11 Jean-Pierre Ponnele, French opera director (Carmina Burana), dies at 56
- Aug 12 Jean-Michel Basquiat, American artist (Gray, SAMO), dies of a drug overdose at 27
- Aug 14 Robert Calvert, South African-British writer and musician (Hawkwind), dies of a heart attack at 43
- Aug 14 Roy Buchanan, American blues guitarist, takes his own life after being arrested for public drunkenness at 48
- Aug 16 Milton Adolphus, American pianist and composer, dies at 75
Frederick Ashton (1904-1988)
Aug 18 British choreographer (Cinderella), dies at 83
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