- Aug 4 Frankie Ford [Guzzo], American rock vocalist ("Sea Cruise"), born in Gretna, Louisiana, (d. 2015)
- Aug 6 (William) "Sonny" Sanders, American soul vocalist, songwriter, arranger and producer (Jackie Wilson), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2016)
- Aug 8 Philip E. Baisley, American country singer (Statler Brothers - "Class of '57"), born in Augusta, Virginia
- Aug 8 William Hibbard, American composer, musician and conductor, born in Newton, Massachusetts (d. 1989)
- Aug 9 Billy Henderson, American pop and R&B singer (The Spinners, 1954-2004 - "The Rubberband Man"), born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 2007)
- Aug 9 Max Neuhaus, American classical musician and experimental percussionist (sound sculptures), born in Beaumont, Texas (d. 2009)
- Aug 11 Attila Bozay, Hungarian composer, born in Balatonfűzfő, Hungary (d. 1999)
- Aug 11 Ronnie Dawson, American rockabilly guitarist (Rockabilly Hall of Fame, 1998), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 2003) [1]
- Aug 13 Howard Tate, American soul singer and songwriter ("Ain't Nobody Home"; "Get It While You Can"), born in Elberton, Georgia (d. 2011)
- Aug 15 Herman van Keeken, Dutch singer ("Daddy Don't Run So Fast"), born in Hilversum, Netherlands (d. 1995)
- Aug 15 Norma Waterson, British folk music revivalist, and singer-songwriter, born in Hull, East Yorkshire, England (d. 2022)
- Aug 16 Billy Joe Shaver, American country singer-songwriter (When I Get My Wings), born in Corsicana, Texas (d. 2020)
- Aug 16 Eric Weissberg, American singer and musician (Duelling Banjos), born in New York (d. 2020)
- Aug 17 Luther Allison, American rock guitarist ("Bad News Is Coming"), born in Mayflower Arkansas (d. 1997)
- Aug 18 Johnny Preston, American singer (Running Bear), born in Port Arthur, Texas (d. 2011)
- Aug 18 Maxine Brown, American soul and R&B singer and songwriter (It's All in My Mind), born in Kingstree, South Carolina
- Aug 19 [Peter] "Ginger" Baker, English drummer (Cream - "Sunshine Of Your Love"; "Toad"; Blind Faith - "Do What You Like"), born in London, England (d. 2019)
- Aug 21 Ernie Maresca, American singer and songwriter ("Runaround Sue"; "The Wanderer"), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2015)
- Aug 21 Harold Reid, American country bass vocalist (Statler Brothers - "Bed Of Rose's"), born in Staunton, Virginia (d. 2020)
- Aug 21 James Burton, American guitarist (Ricky Nelson; Elvis Presley; Elvis Costello), born in Dubberly, Louisiana
- Aug 22 Candido Lima, Portuguese composer, born in Viana do Castelo, Portugal
- Aug 26 Fred Milano, American doo-wop singer (Dion & The Belmonts), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2012)
- Aug 27 Edward Patten, American soul singer (Gladys Knight & the Pips), born in Atlanta, Georgia (d. 2005)
- Aug 28 Clem Cattini, British rock drummer (The Tornados), born in Stoke Newington, North London, England
- Aug 31 Jerry Allison, American rock drummer and songwriter (Buddy Holly & Crickets - "That'll Be The Day"; "Peggy Sue"), born in Hillsboro, Texas (d. 2022)
- Aug 31 Jim McCrary, American photographer and album cover artist (Tapestry: Ticket to Ride), born in Los Angeles (d. 2012)
- Aug 31 Paul Winter, American new age music saxophonist, composer, and bandleader (The Paul Winter Consort), born in Altoona, Pennsylvania
About August 1939
How Old? 84 or 85 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: No
Country Singers
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