Birthdays in Music
- May 3 Alceo Galliera, Italian composer, born in Milan (d. 1996)
- May 8 Mary Lou Williams, American jazz pianist and composer (Zodiac Suite), born in Atlanta, Georgia (d. 1981)
- May 11 Jorge Croner de Vasconcelos, Portuguese composer (d. 1974)
- May 12 Gordon Jenkins, American arranger and orchestra leader (Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra), born in Webster Groves, Missouri (d. 1984)
- May 23 (Benjamin) "Scatman" Crothers, American singer, musician ("I'd Rather Be a Hummingbird"), and actor (Chico and the Man - "Louie", The Shining), born in Terre Haute, Indiana (d. 1986)
- May 23 Artie Shaw [Arthur Arshawsky], American gig 0bandleader, jazz clarinetist and actor ("Begin the Beguine"), and actor, born in NYC, New York (d. 2004)
- May 24 Marģeris Zariņš, Latvian composer and writer, born in Jaunpiebalga, Russian Empire (d. 1993)
- May 24 Nils-Eric Fougstedt, Finnish composer (Angoscia, Trittico sinfonico), born in Raisio, Finland (d. 1961)
- May 27 (Earl) "Jock" Caruthers American jazz saxophonist (Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra, 1932-47), born in Monroe, Mississippi (d. 1971)
- May 28 Arthur Trappier, American jazz drummer (Blanche Calloway: Fats Waller), born in Georgetown, South Carolina (d. 1975)
T-Bone Walker (1910-1975)
May 28 American blues guitarist ("Funky Town"; "Well Done"), born in Linden, Texas
Deaths in Music
- May 18 Florimond Van Duyse, Belgian composer, dies at 66
- May 18 Pauline Viardot, French pianist, mezzo-soprano, and composer (Cendrillon), dies at 88
- May 20 Jean-Baptiste Theodore Weckerlin, French composer, dies at 88
- May 29 Mily Balakirev, Russian pianist and composer (Islamej; Tamara), dies at 73
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