- May 1 Antonio Mastrogiovanni, Uruguayan composer, dies at 73
- May 1 Rob McConnell, Canadian jazz composer, arranger and valve trombonist (The Boss Brass), dies of liver cancer at 75
- May 5 Alfons Kontarsky, German concert pianist (best known for duo-piano performance with his brother, Aloys), dies at 77
- May 7 Adele Mara [Adelaida Delgado], American actress, singer and dancer (Cool Million; Wheels), dies at 87
- May 9 Lena Horne, American actress and Grammy Award-winning singer (Cabin in the Sky; Stormy Weather; The Wiz), dies at 92
- May 10 Frank Frazetta [Frazzetta], American fantasy illustrator of comic book, paperback, album cover art, dies of a stroke at 82
- May 13 Lode Backx, Flemish pianist, dies at 87
- May 15 Diether de la Motte, German composer and music theorist, dies at 82
- May 16 Hank Jones, American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer, dies at 91
- May 16 Ronnie James Dio [Padavona], American singer, songwriter and musician (Elf; Rainbow; Black Sabbath; Dio; and Heaven & Hell), dies at 67
- May 17 Bobbejaan Schoepen, Belgian singer, entertainer and professional whistler, dies at 85
- May 17 Yvonne Loriod, French pianist, composer (Mélopées africaines), and teacher, dies at 86
- May 23 Billy Francis, American keyboardist (Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show - "Cover of the Rolling Stone"), dies at 68
- May 24 Anneliese Rothenberger, German operatic lyric soprano, 1942-83, dies at 85
- May 24 Paul Gray, American heavy metal bassist (Slipknot), dies of a drug overdose at 38
- May 24 Petr Muk, Czech new-wave and pop musician, and singer-songwriter (Oceán; Shalom), dies from mixing alcohol and prescription medications at 45
- May 25 Robert Muczynski, American classical pianist, composer (Time Pieces), and educator, dies at 81
- May 25 Siphiwo Ntshebe, South African operatic tenor, dies of meningitis at 35
- May 31 Benjamin Lees [Lisniansky], American composer (Kalmar Nyckel; Memorial Candles), dies at 86
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers