- May 8 Kees Deenik, Dutch singer, bandleader, and broadcaster, dies at 78-ish
- May 9 Iván Patachich, Hungarian contemporary classical and electro-acoustic composer, dies at 70
- May 16 Marv Johnson, American R&B pianist, songwriter, and singer ("You Got What It Takes"; "(You've Got To) Move Two Mountains"), dies of a stroke at 54
- May 22 Mieczyslaw Horszowski, Polish-American pianist, dies at 100
- May 26 Cor de Groot, Dutch pianist, conductor, and composer (Vernissage), dies at 78
- May 28 (Isiah) "Doctor" Ross, American blues singer and one-man band, known as 'the Harmonica Boss' ("Cat Squirrel"), dies at 67
- May 30 Sun Ra [Herman Blount], American jazz pianist (The Arkestra), dies at 79
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers