- Aug 8 Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader of the 1950-60s hard bop era (The Black Messiah), dies of a stroke at 46
- Aug 8 Bernie Green, American orchestra leader (Arthur Godfrey Show, Garry Moore Show), dies at 66
Dmitri Shostakovich
Aug 9 Dmitri Shostakovich, Russian composer (The Gadfly), dies of lung cancer at 68
Dmitri Shostakovich
- Aug 19 Ima Hogg, American society leader, Texas art patron and founder of Houston Symphony, dies at 93
- Aug 25 Frans van Amelsvoort, Dutch choir conductor, dies at 75
- Aug 26 Juliette Béliveau, Canadian actress (Le gros Bill) and singer, dies at 85
- Aug 29 Leland T. Weed, American singer and actor, dies at 74