- May 9 Raymond Chevreuille, Belgian composer, dies at 74
- May 9 Valentino Bucchi, Italian composer, dies at 59
- May 11 Camille Schmit, Belgian composer, dies at 68
- May 12 Rudolf Kempe, German conductor (Tonhalle Orch 1965-72), dies at 65
- May 14 Keith Relf, British blues-rock singer and harmonica player (The Yardbirds - "For Your Love"; Renaissance, 1969-71), electrocuted while playing an improperly earthed electric guitar at 33
- May 17 Charles Stepney, American pianist, arranger, and record producer (Chess Records; Minnie Riperton; Ramsey Lewis; Earth, Wind & Fire), dies of a heart attack at 45
- May 21 Harold Blair, Australian tenor and Aboriginal activist, dies at 51
- May 21 Sulo Nikolai Salonen, Finnish composer, dies at 77
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
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