- Aug 1 John Ogdon, English pianist/composer, dies at 52
- Aug 2 Helmer-Rayner Sinisalo, Karelian-Soviet composer (Sampo), and educator, dies at 69
- Aug 3 Antonia Brico, Dutch-American conductor and pianist, dies at 87
- Aug 8 Irv Cottler, American session and touring drummer (Frank Sinatra; Dinah Shore), dies of a heart attack at 71
- Aug 21 Raul Seixas, Brazilian rock singer-songwriter ("Mosca na Sopa" - "Fly In The Soup"), dies of pancreatitis at 44
- Aug 23 Helen le Clerq, Dutch dancer and choreographer, dies at 57
- Aug 25 Gunnar Johnsen Berg, Swiss-Danish composer (Cosmogonie), dies at 80
- Aug 25 Roman Palester, Polish composer (The Weichsel), dies at 81