- 1527 Johann Walter, German composer, born in Kahla (d. 1570)
- 1673 Johann Valentin Eckelt, German composer, born in Werningshausen, Germany (d. 1732)
- 1703 Gottlob Harrer, German composer, born in Görlitz (d. 1755)
- 1742 Jean-Baptiste Krumpholz [Jan Křtitel Krumpholtz], Czech-French harpist and composer, born in Budenice, Zlonice, Czech Republic (d. 1790)
- 1745 Carl Philipp Stamitz, German composer, born in Mannheim, Electorate of the Palatinate, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1801)
- 1750 Elias Mann, American composer, born in Weymouth, Massachusetts (d. 1825)
- 1778 Johann Baptist Gansbacher, Austrian composer, born in Sterzing, Tyrol, Italy (d. 1844)
- 1806 Johann Friedrich Kittl, Czech composer, born in Orlík, Bohemia (d. 1868)
- 1815 Jean-Delphin Alard, French violinist and composer, born in Bayonne, France (d. 1888)
- 1829 Louis Moreau Gottschalk, American pianist and composer, born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1869)
- 1839 Adolphe-Basile Routhier, French Canadian lyricist ("O! Canada"), born in Saint-Placide, Quebec (d. 1920)
- 1844 Hermann Gradener, German composer, born in Kiel, Germany (d. 1929)
- 1846 Oscar Hammerstein, German opera and playwright (Kohinoor), born in Stettin, Kingdom of Prussia (d. 1919)
- 1886 Jef van Hoof, Flemish composer, born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1959)
- 1905 (Ernest) "Red" Nichols, American jazz cornetist, composer and jazz bandleader (His Five Pennies - "Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider"; "Bugler's Lament"), born in Ogden, Utah (d. 1965) [1]
- 1905 Inglis Gundry, British composer, musicologist and novelist, born in Wimbledon, London (d. 2000)
Robert Johnson (1911-1938)
American blues singer-songwriter, and guitarist (King of Delta Blues Singers), born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi
- 1918 Nan Wynn [Masha Vatz], American radio and big-band singer (Rudy Vallée; Teddy Wilson), actress, and singing voice for Rita Hayworth, born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania (d. 1971) [1]
- 1919 Soltan Hajibeyov, Azerbaijani composer and People's Artist of the USSR, born in Shusha, Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (d. 1974)
- 1928 Larry Levine, American sound engineer (Phil Spector's wall of sound; Herb Alpert; Beach Boys), born in New York City (d. 2008)
- 1928 William Jay Sydeman, American avant-garde composer, born in New York City (d. 2021)
- 1929 Miyoshi Umeki, Japanese-American Academy Award-winning stage and screen singer and actress (Sayonara; Flower Drum Song; Courtship of Eddie's Father - "Mrs. Livingston"), born in Otaru, Japan (d. 2007)
- 1930 Heather Harper, Northern Irish operatic soprano (Britten's War Requiem), born in Belfast, Northern Ireland (d. 2019)
- 1931 Charles M. Wilson, Canadian organist and composer (The Angels Of The Earth), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2019)
- 1935 Jerry Moss, American music promoter record label executive (co-founded A&M Records, with Herb Alpert), born in New York City (d. 2023)
- 1940 (Cathryn) "Toni" Tennille, American singer-songwriter, keyboardist (Captain & Tennille - "Love Will Keep Us Together") and female Beach Boy, born in Montgomery, Alabama
Ricky Nelson (1940-1985)
American pop-rock star ("Hello Mary Lou"; "It's Late"; "Garden Party") and actor (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet), born in Teaneck, New Jersey
- 1941 John Fred [Gourrier], American pop singer (John Fred and His Playboy Band - "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)"), born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (d. 2005)
- 1941 Mahmoud Ahmed, Ethiopian singer, born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia [some sources cite May 18]
- 1942 (Euclid) Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood, American rock saxophonist and vocalist (Mothers Of Invention), born in Arkansas City, Kansas (d. 2011)
- 1943 Danny Whitten, American rock guitarist and songwriter (Crazy Horse; Rod Stewart - "I Don't Want To Talk About It"), born in Columbus, Georgia (d. 1972)
- 1943 Paul Samwell-Smith, British blues-rock bassist, and record producer (The Yardbirds, 1963-66 "For Your Love"), born in Richmond, Surrey, England
- 1944 Bill Legend [Fifield], British musician and rock drummer (T. Rex), born in Barking, Essex
- 1944 Dorothy Combs (Morrison), American gospel, session and touring singer (Edwin Hawkins Singers - "Oh Happy Day"; The Combs Sisters; Blues Broads), born in Longview, Texas
Gary Glitter (79 years old)
1944 British glam rocker (Rock and Roll, Parts 1 and 2), and convicted sex offender, born in Banbury, England
- 1945 Keith Jarrett, American jazz and classical pianist and composer (The Köln Concert), born in Allentown, Pennsylvania
- 1947 Felicity Lott, British lyric and operatic soprano (We Come To The River), born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
- 1948 Don "Red" Young, American session, touring keyboard and piano player, bandleader, and jazz Hammond B3 organist, born in Fort Worth, Texas
- 1951 Chris Frantz, American rock drummer (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club), born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky
- 1951 Philip Bailey, American R&B and pop singer (Earth Wind & Fire - "Shining Star"; solo - "Easy Lover"), born in Denver, Colorado
- 1953 Alex Van Halen, Dutch-American rock drummer (Van Halen - "Hot For Teacher"), born in Amsterdam The Netherlands,
- 1953 Andreas P. Nielsen, Danish author and composer, born in Kolding, Denmark (d. 2011)
- 1953 Billy Burnette, American rock guitarist (Fleetwood Mac, 1987-95), born in Memphis, Tennessee
- 1954 Phil Wiggins, American blues harmonica player (Cephas & Wiggins), born in Washington, D.C.
- 1960 Eric Brittingham, American rock bassist (Cinderella - "Heartbreak Station"; "Nobody's Fool"), born in Salisbury, Maryland
- 1964 Dave Rowntree, British drummer (Blur - "Country House"; Coffee &TV"), and politician, born in Colchester, Essex, England
- 1966 Daniel Glass, American jazz and R&B drummer, music writer, historian and educator (Royal Crown Revue; Daniel Glass Trio), born in Lincoln, Nebraska
- 1966 Marta Sánchez, Spanish singer (De Mujer a Mujer), born in Madrid, Spain
- 1967 James Hurt, American jazz pianist, and composer (Dark Grooves – Mystical Rhythms), born in Memphis, Tennessee
- 1968 Chris Lighty, music executive and manager (Violator), born in The Bronx New York (d. 2012)
- 1971 Chris Wolf, American actor and musician (Guys Next Door - "I've Been Waiting for You")
Enrique Iglesias (48 years old)
1975 Spanish singer-songwriter and King of Latin Pop ("Bailamos"; "Hero"), born in Madrid, Spain
- 1976 Ian "H" Watkins, Welsh pop singer (Steps - "Heartbeat"; "Stomp"), actor, and television personality, born in Llwynypia, Wales
- 1976 Martha Wainwright, Canadian-American musician and songwriter, born in Montréal, Quebec
- 1977 Joe Bonnamassa, American blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter ("Dust Bowl"; "Redemption"), born in New Hartford, New York
- 1978 Jang Woo Hyuk, Korean singer, rapper, and dancer (HOT; JTL), and actor, born in Daegu, South Korea
- 1980 Michelle McManus, Scottish pop singer ("All This Time"), born in Glasgow, Scotland
- 1981 Björn Dixgård, Swedish rock guitarist and singer (Mando Daio), born in Falun, Sweden
- 1982 Anthony Roth Costanzo, American operatic countertenor (Akhnaten), actor, and educator, born in Durham, North Carolina
- 1983 Matt Willis, British pop singer, bassist (Busted), and television personality, born in Tooting, London, England
- 1996 6ix9ine [Daniel Hernandez], American rapper and songwriter ("Trollz"), born in Brooklyn, New York (born May 8, 1996)
- 1997 [Xiaoyu] Bruce Liu, Chinese-Canadian classical pianist (International Chopin Piano Competition, 2021), born in Paris, France
Composers
Drummers
Guitarists
Pianists
Singers
Songwriters