- May 2 (Mary) Norma Procter, British contralto singer, dies of Parkinson's Disease at 89
- May 2 Grigori Zhislin, Russian concert violinist, and viola player, dies at 71
- May 3 Daliah Lavi [Levinbuck], Israeli actress (Casino Royale: Lord Jim), and singer, dies at 74
- May 7 David Pell, American big band jazz saxophonist, bandleader (Dave Pell Octet), and record producer, dies at 92
- May 8 Robert Gutter, American conductor and teacher (founded International Institute for Conductors, 1996), dies at 78
- May 9 Robert Miles [Roberto Concina], Swiss musician, record producer, and composer of trance and ambient music ("Children"), dies of pancreatic cancer at 47
- May 12 Bill Dowdy, American jazz drummer (The Three Sounds), dies at 84
- May 18 Chris Cornell, American musician (Soundgarden, Audioslave), commits suicide at 52
- May 18 Frankie Paul [Paul Blake], Jamaican reggae musician, dies of kidney disease at 51
- May 18 Jimmy "Bro" Hayes, American doo-wop bass singer (Persuasions - "Under the Boardwalk"), dies at 74
- May 20 Jimmy Dale, British-Canadian pianist and orchestra leader (The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour), dies at 81
- May 22 (Granville) "Mickey" Roker, American jazz drummer (Art Farmer; Milt Jackson; Dizzy Gillespie), dies suffering from diabetes and lung cancer at 84
- May 22 Barbara Smith Conrad, American operatic mezzo-soprano singer, and educator (Wagner Theater), dies at 79
Gregg Allman (1947-2017)
May 27 American Hammond organist, guitarist and vocalist (The Allman Brothers Band - "Whipping Post"), dies of cancer at 69
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