- Jan 2 Mily Balakirev, Russian pianist and composer (Islamej, Tamara), born in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (d. 1910)
- Jan 12 Adolf Jensen, German pianist, composer, and teacher, born in Königsberg, Prussian (now Kaliningrad, Russia) (d. 1879)
- Jan 12 Carlos Troyer, American composer, born in Frankfurt, German Confederation (d. 1920)
- Jan 23 Amanda Smith, American former slave, singer and evangelist, born in Long Green, Maryland (d. 1915)
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers