- Aug 1 Douglas Townsend, American composer, dies at 90
- Aug 2 Jimmy Jones, American singer-songwriter ("Handy Man"), dies at 75
- Aug 2 Marguerite Piazza, American operatic soprano (Young Broadway), dies at 86
- Aug 6 Marvin Hamlisch, American composer and conductor (The Sting; A Chorus Line), dies of respiratory arrest at 68
- Aug 6 Ruggiero Ricci, American composer and violinist (Paganini), dies from heart failure at 94
- Aug 11 Carlo Curley, American classical concert organist dies at 59
- Aug 12 Mendelis Bašs, Latvian composer, conductor, and pedagogue, dies at 93
- Aug 15 Bob Birch, American session and touring bassist (Elton John), commits suicide at 56
- Aug 18 Scott McKenzie, American singer, dies at 73
- Aug 30 Chris Lighty, American music executive and manager (Violator), dies of a gunshot wound at 44
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