- May 1 Last British concert by the Beatles at Empire Pool in Wembley, London
Paint It Black
May 6 The Rolling Stones release the single "Paint It Black", featuring prominent sitar played by Brian Jones, in the US
- May 7 Mamas & Papas' "Monday Monday" hits #1
- May 13 The Rolling Stones release "Paint it Black" in the UK
- May 14 A Lover's Concerto by Mrs Miller hits #95
- May 16 The Beach Boys release their groundbreaking album "Pet Sounds", containing hit singles "Sloop John B" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice", and "God Only Knows"
- May 21 "Downtown" by Mrs Miller hits #82
- May 21 "Time for Singing" opens at Broadway Theater NYC for 41 performances
- May 21 Louie Louie by The Kingsmen reentered the chart & hits #97
Mame
May 24 Jerry Herman's musical "Mame", starring Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur, opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC; runs for 1508 performances, wins 3 Tony Awards
- May 28 "Ballad Of Irving", parody song by Frank Gallop peaks at #34 in US
Music History
May 28 Dmitri Shostakovich's 11th String quartet premieres in Leningrad
- May 30 The Beatles release single "Paperback Writer" / "Rain" in US; "Rain" featured experimental studio tricks of slowed down bass and drums tracks, and backwards vocals in the fade out
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers