- May 4 Louis Krasner, Ukrainian-American violinist, dies at 91
- May 5 Thomas Eden Binkley, musician, dies at 63
- May 6 Clarence Paul [Pauling], American songwriter, and record producer (Motown; Stevie Wonder - "Fingertips"), dies at 67
- May 6 Leonard "Red" Truss, American R&B singer (The Steelers - "Get It From The Bottom"), dies at 47
- May 7 Ray McKinley, American orchestra leader and jazz drummer (Glenn Miller Time), dies at 84
- May 8 Carroll Best, American bluegrass banjo player and educator, shot to death by his brother at 64
- May 8 Teresa Teng [Li-chun], Taiwanese pop singer ("Aijin"; "The Power Of Love"; "Airport"), and actress, dies from a severe asthma attack at 42
- May 9 Marshall Royal, American jazz alto saxophonist & clarinetist (Count Basie Orchestra), dies at 82
- May 10 Jimmy Raney, American jazz guitarist, dies at 67
- May 11 Tibor Sarai, Hungarian composer, dies at 76
- May 12 Marcel Rubin, Austrian composer, dies at 89
- May 15 Johnny Van Derrick, British jazz violinist (Pink Panther Theme), dies at 68
- May 15 Perry Lederman, American folk and blues singer and guitarist, dies at 52
- May 16 Lola Flores, Spanish singer, dancer and actress (Kuma Ching, Faraona), dies at 70
- May 17 Nathan "Dambuza" Mdledle, South African singer (Manhattan Brothers) and actor, dies at 72
- May 18 Alexander Godunov, Russian-American ballet dancer (Bolshoi Ballet, 1971-79), and actor (Witness; Die Hard), dies of hepatitis and alcoholism at 45 (exact date estimated)dies at 45
- May 18 André-François Marescotti, Swiss organist and composer, dies at 93
- May 18 Gordon Reynolds, English organist and master of the Choristers at the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace, dies at 74
- May 23 Keith Humble, Australian composer, dies at 67
- May 23 Mick Pyne, British touring and session jazz pianist (Tubby Hayes; Georgie Fame: Charlie Watts), dies at 54
- May 25 Dick Curless, American country music singer-songwriter (A Tombstone Every Mile), dies of stomach cancer at 63
- May 26 Ron Weatherburn, British jazz pianist, dies at 61
- May 27 C W Stubblefield, music promoter, dies at 64
- May 27 László Kalmár, Hungarian composer (Triangles), dies at 63
- May 27 Ulysses Kay, American neoclassical composer (Of New Horizons: Overture), dies of Parkinson's disease complications at 78
- May 28 Henning Kronstam, Danish dancer, dies at 60
- May 31 Pavel Sivic, Slovenian composer, dies at 87
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers