- Jul 1 Chauncey Haughton, American jazz clarinetist, and saxophonist (Blanche Calloway; Chick Webb; Cab Calloway), dies at 80
- Jul 5 Ernesto Halffter, Spanish classical and film score composer (Rapsodia portuguesa; is Don Quixote de la Mancha), and conductor, dies at 84
- Jul 14 Herman D. Koppel, Danish pianist and composer, dies at 89
- Jul 15 Will Bradley [Wilbur Schwichtenberg], American session, jazz, and boogie-woogie trombonist and bandleader ("Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar"), dies at 77
- Jul 16 Herbert von Karajan, Austrian conductor (Berlin Philharmonic, 1955-89), dies of a heart attack at 81
- Jul 22 Martti Talvela, Finnish operatic bass (Bayreuth, 1960-85 ; Metropolitan Opera, 1968–87), dies of a heart attack while dancing at his daughter's wedding at 54 [1]
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers