- May 7 Mieczyslaw Kolinski, Polish-Canadian composer (Encounterpoint), educator, and ethnomusicologist, dies at 79
Bob Marley (1945-1981)
May 11 Jamaican reggae musician ("Exodus"; "One Love"; "No Woman No Cry"; "Three Little Birds"), dies of brain and lung cancer at 36
- May 13 Carl Weinrich, American organist, choral conductor, Baroque revivalist, and educator, dies at 76
- May 16 Ernie Freeman, American R&B and pop musician ("Raunchy"), session pianist, arranger, and music director (Reprise Records; Liberty Records), dies of a heart attack at 58
- May 17 Hugo Friedhofer, American cellist and film and television composer, dies at 80
- May 23 George Jessel, American stage and screen actor, singer, producer and host known as "The Toastmaster General", dies of a heart attack at 83
- May 25 Rosa Ponselle [Ponzillo], American soprano opera diva ("Casta Diva"; La Forza del Destino - "Leonora"; Metropolitan Opera, 1918-37), dies at 84
- May 25 Roy Brown, American R&B singer, songwriter ("Good Rockin' Tonight"), dies of a heart attack at 55
- May 28 Mary Lou Williams (née Scruggs), American jazz pianist, arranger (Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman), composer (Zodiac Suite; Mary Lou's Mass), and philanthropist, dies of bladder cancer at 71
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers