- Aug 2 Don Tosti, American musician ("Pachuco Boogie"), dies at 81
Rick James (1948-2004)
Aug 6 American funk musician ("Super Freak"), dies of pulmonary failure and cardiac failure at 56
- Aug 9 David Raksin, American composer renown for his work in film and TV (Laura; Modern Times), dies at 92
- Aug 9 Tony Mottola, American jazz guitarist, dies at 86
- Aug 15 Semiha Berksoy, Turkish operatic soprano (Istanbul Opera, 1940-72), dies of heart surgery complications at 94
- Aug 17 D-Roc the Executioner [Dennis Miles], American heavy metal musician (Body Count), dies of complications of lymphoma at 44
- Aug 17 Gérard Souzay, French baritone, dies at 85
- Aug 18 Elmer Bernstein, American film music composer (The Magnificent Seven; To Kill A Mockingbird; The Age Of Innocence; Thoroughly Modern Millie), dies at 82
- Aug 18 Joe Dodge, American jazz drummer (Dave Brubeck Quartet, 1953-56), dies at 82
- Aug 22 Al Dvorin, American Elvis Presley concert announcer, dies at 81
- Aug 26 Laura Branigan, American singer-songwriter (Gloria), dies of a brain aneurysm at 52 [1]
- Aug 29 Hans Vonk, Dutch conductor (The Hague Philharmonic, 1980-1991; St. Louis Symphony, 1996-2002), dies from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease) at 62
- Aug 31 Carl Wayne [Colin Tooley], British rock singer (The Move), and actor, dies of esophageal cancer at 61
Kendrick Lamar
Eminem
XXXTentacion
Tupac Shakur
Nicki Minaj
Coolio