- Aug 6 Kenneth Nichols, Canadian classical pianist, composer, (Symphonic Celebration; Boy In A Cage), and teacher (Brandon University, 1962-96), dies at 85
- Aug 7 Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, American funk saxophonist (Kool & The Gang - "Who's Gonna Take The Weight"), dies at 70 [1]
- Aug 11 Roy Gaines, American electric and Texas blues and session guitarist, singer, and songwriter ("A Hell of a Night"), dies at 83
- Aug 13 Nanci Griffith, American singer ("From A Distance"), and songwriter ("Once in a Very Blue Moon"; "Love at the Five and Dime"), dies at 68
- Aug 14 Igor Oistrakh, Soviet-Russian concert violinist (Wieniawski Competition, 1952), and educator (Moscow Conservatory, Brussels Royal Conservatory), dies at 90
- Aug 14 R. Murray Schafer, Canadian composer (Patria), music educator, and environmentalist, dies of complications Alzheimer's disease at 88
- Aug 20 Peter Ind, British jazz double bassist, dies at 93
- Aug 20 Tom T. Hall, American country singer, songwriter ("Harper Valley PTA"), and author, dies of a self-inflicted gun wound at 85
- Aug 21 (Isaac) Don Everly, American rock and roll singer-guitarist (The Everly Brothers - "Bye, Bye Love"; "Wake Up Little Susie"; "When WIll I Be Loved"), dies at 84
- Aug 22 Brian Travers, British rock saxophonist (UB40 - "Red, Red Wine"), dies of cancer at 62
- Aug 22 Micki Grant [Minnie Perkins], American theater singer, actress, and composer (Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope; Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With God), dies at 92
Charlie Watts (1941-2021)
Aug 24 British rock and jazz drummer (Rolling Stones), dies at 80
- Aug 26 Kenny Malone, American Nashville-based session drummer (Dolly Parton; Dobie Gray: Waylon Jennings), dies of COVID-19 at 83
- Aug 27 Siegfried Matthus, German composer, and opera director (Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg, 1991-2018), dies at 87
- Aug 29 Lee "Scratch" Perry, [Rainford Hugh Perry] Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter and producer (The Upset;ers), dies at 85
- Aug 29 Ron Bushy, American rock drummer (Iron Butterfly - “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”), dies of esophageal cancer at 79
Kendrick Lamar
Eminem
XXXTentacion
Tupac Shakur
Nicki Minaj
Coolio