- May 2 John "Jo" Callis, British punk-rock songwriter and musician (The Rezillos, The Human League), born in Rotherham, England
- May 3 Christopher Cross [Geppert], American singer-songwriter (Arthur's Theme, Sailing), born in San Antonio, Texas
- May 4 Jackie Jackson [Sigmund], American rocker (Jackson 5-ABC), born in Gary, Indiana
- May 4 Colin Bass, British bassist (Camel), born in London
- May 4 Mick Mars [Robert Alan Deal], guitarist (Mötley Crüe), born in Terre Haute, Indiana (alternative date 4 April 1955)
- May 5 Rex Goh, rock guitarist (Air Supply)
- May 8 Chris Frantz, American rock drummer (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club), born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky
- May 8 Philip Bailey, rocker (Earth Wind & Fire-Shining Star, Easy Lover)
- May 10 Ron Banks, US R&B singer (Dramatics-Whatcha See is Whatcha Get)
- May 13 Paul Thompson, rock drummer (Roxy Music)
- May 14 Jay Beckenstein, saxophonist (Spyro Gyra-Morning Dance)
- May 15 Dennis Frederiksen, rocker (Toto-Roseanna, Africa), (d. 2014)
- May 16 Jonathan Richman, rocker (Modern Lovers-New England, Egyptian Reggae)
- May 19 Joey Ramone, [Jeffrey Hyman], lead singer of the punk rock band The Ramones (Baby I Love You)
- May 23 Judy Rodman, country singer (Girls Ride Horses Too), born in Riverside, California
- May 24 Rob Baker, rock drummer (Red Rider)
- May 25 Clifford Archer, bassist (Atlantic Star-Touch a 4 Leaf Clover)
- May 30 Zdravko Čolić, Yugoslav-Bosnian singer, born in Sarajevo, FPR Yugoslavia