- 1744 Joseph Beer, Bohemia clarinetist/composer (5th clarinet flap)
- 1759 Charles Duquesnoy, composer
- 1819 Julius Hopp, Austrian composer, born in Vienna (d. 1885)
- 1830 Karl Goldmark, Keszthely Hungary, composer (Sakuhtala)
- 1836 Isidor Vorobchievici, composer
- 1854 Bernard Zweers, Dutch composer (Gisbertus of Aemstel, To My Fatherland), born in Amsterdam (d. 1924)
- 1875 Guido Alberto Fano, Italian composer and pianist, born in Padua (d. 1961)
- 1882 Eduardo Fabini, composer
- 1886 Ole Windingstad, composer
- 1901 Harry Robert Wilson, composer
- 1901 Henri-Pierre Sauguet, composer (La Chotte), born in Bordeaux, France
- 1902 [Robert] Meredith Willson, Mason City Iowa, composer (Music Man)
- 1905 Eric Zeisl, Austrian American composer, born in Vienna (d. 1959)
- 1907 Clifford Curzon, pianist (MacFarren Gold Medal), born in London, England
- 1911 Joe Turner, KC, blues singer (Corrine Corrina, Shake Rattle & Roll)
- 1912 Perry Como, [Pierino], Canonsburg Pa, singer/TV (Perry Como Show)
- 1913 Charles Trenet, French singer and songwriter (d. 2001)
- 1919 Margot Fonteyn, English prima ballerina (Giselle), born in Reigate, England (1991)
- 1920 Lucia Mannucci, Italian singer (Quartetto Cetra)
- 1922 Kai Winding, Danish-American Jazz musician and trombonist (Georgia On My Mind), born in Aarhus, Denmark (d. 1983)
- 1923 Liam Sullivan, American singer and actor (Star Trek, The Magic Sword, Monroes), born in Jacksonville, Illinois (d. 1998)
- 1929 Roger Matton, composer
- 1931 Robert Morse, American singer and actor (Mad Men, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), born in Newton, Massachusetts
- 1939 Gary S. Paxton [Larry Wayne Stevens], American musician and songwriter (Monster Mash, Alley Oop), born in Coffeyville, Kansas (d. 2016)
- 1942 Rodney Dillard, rocker (Glittergrass)
- 1944 Albert Hammond, rocker (It Never Rains In Southern California ), born in London
- 1948 Joe Bonsall, country singer (Oak Ridge Boys-Elvira), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 1949 Bill Wallace, rocker/actor (Fear, Avenging Force, Desperate)
- 1949 Rick Wakeman, English, rock keyboardist (Yes), born in London
- 1949 William Wallace, rocker (Guess Who)
- 1952 George Strait, Pearsall Tx, country singer (All My Exes Live in Texas)
- 1953 [Feliciano] Butch Tavares, rocker (Tavares)
- 1954 Wreckless Eric, rocker (Waxworks, Be Stiff)
- 1954 Reinhold Heil, German composer
- 1957 Michael Cretu, rocker (Enigma)
- 1958 Toyah Wilcox, rocker (I Want to Be Free), born in Birmingham, England
- 1962 Nanne Grönvall, Swedish singer
- 1962 Sandra Cretu, German singer
- 1965 Ingo Schwichtenberg, German drummer (d. 1995)
- 1966 Michael Tait, American musician (dc Talk, Tait)
- 1967 Rob Base, American rapper
- 1969 Martika [Marta Marrero], Cuban-American singer (Toy Soldiers), born in Whittier, California
- 1975 Jack Johnson, American musician
- 1980 Ali Zafar, Pakistani singer and model
- 1982 Eric West, American singer and actor
May in History
Pope 'Turned Vatican Into Whorehouse'
Pope John XII who died – some say he was murdered – on this day lived a life of sin, corruption and murder. But is his reputation as the worst pope deserved?
May 14, 964 AD
Taxman Delivers Cruel Blow to Miss Whiplash
If I agreed to your demand for cash payment it means that you would be living off immoral earnings, celebrated Madam tells the tax authority.
May 15, 1990
My Fair Lady's Special Day
This was a day to remember for Eliza Doolittle, the 'My Fair Lady' of the stage and film musical that won and broke hearts.
May 20, 1956
Memories of Elvis
Only one actor has appeared on film with both the Beatles and Elvis Presley: the little-known Norman Rossington.
May 21, 1999