- Aug 3 Jackie Verdell, American gospel singer (The Davis Sisters, 1955-66), pop singer-songwriter ("Why Not Give Me A Chance") and session vocalist (Wilson Picket; Van Morrison), dies at 53
- Aug 4 Jeri Southern [Genevieve Hering], American jazz singer ("You Better Go Now"; "Joey"), dies of a heart attack at 64
- Aug 5 Gaston Litaize, French organist (St François-Xavier, Paris, 1946-91), composer, broadcaster, and pedagogue, dies at 81
- Aug 7 Billy T. James, New Zealand comedian and singer (Billy T. James Show), dies of heart failure at 42
- Aug 9 Corrie Hartong, Dutch dance pioneer, dies at 85
- Aug 10 (Henry) "Buster" Smith, American jazz alto saxophonist, arranger, and bandleader (Blue Devils; Count Basie), dies of a heart attack at 86
- Aug 11 Helmut Walcha, a blind German organist (church music), dies at 83
- Aug 11 Rodolfo Cornejo, Filipino classical pianist, composer, and conductor, dies at 82
- Aug 12 Irene Campbell, British actress/dancer (Wicker Man, St Justice), dies
- Aug 18 Clarence Hutchenrider, American jazz clarinetist (Casa Loma Orchestra), dies at 83
- Aug 18 Rick Griffin, American artist and a leading designer of psychedelic posters in the 1960s (Grateful Dead), dies in a motorcycle accident on his Harley at 47
- Aug 19 Richard Maltby Sr., American musician and orchestra leader ("(Themes from) The Man with the Golden Arm"; Vaughn Monroe Show), dies at 77
- Aug 20 Betty Bowden, British dancer and actress (Vote for Nigel), dies at 86
- Aug 24 Mark Lawrence, American pianist (Alice Pearce), and songwriter, and theatrical producer, dies at 70
- Aug 27 Vince Taylor [Brian Holden], British rock and roll singer (Brand New Cadillac), dies of lung cancer at 52
- Aug 29 Dixie Dunbar [Charlotte King], American singer and actress, dies of a heart attack at 72
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