- May 1 Hugo Peretti, American songwriter and record producer, dies at 69
- May 5 John William Haussermann Jr., American composer, dies at 76
- May 5 Rui Coelho, Portuguese composer, dies at 94
- May 7 Jeffrey Mylett, American actor and songwriter (Godspell), dies from complications of HIV/AIDS at 36
- May 17 Jack Waldman, American jazz and rock keyboardist and avant garde composer dies of HIV related illness at 33
- May 18 John Bubbles Sublett, American tap dancer (Black & Bubbles), dies at 84
- May 19 Jimmy Lyons, American jazz saxophonist and composer (Cecil Taylor), dies of lung cancer at 54
- May 20 Bernard Naylor, English-Canadian organist, conductor, and composer, dies at 78
- May 30 Hank Mobley, American hard bop and soul jazz saxophonist, dies of pneumonia at 55
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers