- Jan 1 Carel Brons, Dutch composer, born in Groningen, Netherlands (d. 1983)
- Jan 2 Frank Marocco, American jazz, pop, classical, and session accordionist, arranger and composer, born in Joliet, Illinois (d. 2012)
- Jan 5 Alfred Brendel, Austrian pianist, born in Loučná nad Desnou, Czech Republic
- Jan 5 Alvin Ailey, African-American dancer and choreographer (American Dance Theater), born in Rogers, Texas (d. 1989)
- Jan 8 Bill Graham [Wulf Grajonca], German-American impresario and rock concert promoter (Fillmore; Winterland Ballroom; Live-Aid), born in Berlin, Germany (d. 1991)
- Jan 11 Eve Queler, American conductor (Opera Orchestra of New York, 1971-2010), born in New York City
- Jan 14 Caterina Valente, Italian singer, dancer, and actress (Bon soir, Kathrin!, The Entertainers), born in Paris, France
- Jan 14 Juraj Pospíšil, Czech composer (November Triptych), and pedagogue (Bratislavia Conservatory, 1955-91), born in Olomouc, Czech Republic (d. 2007)
- Jan 15 Murad Kazhlayev, Soviet and Dagestani composer, and conductor, born in Baku, Azerbaijan (d. 2023)
- Jan 17 Frederick A. Fox, American classical composer (Nightscenes; Shaking The Pumpkin), and educator (Indiana University, 1974-94), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2011)
- Jan 20 Earl Grant, American pop pianist, organist, and singer ("Ebb Tide"; "Winter Wonderland"), born in Idabel, Oklahoma (d. 1970)
- Jan 20 Hachidai Nakamura, Japanese jazz pianist and songwriter, born in Tsingtao, Republic of China to (d. 1992)
Sam Cooke (1931-1964)
Jan 22 American singer and entrepreneur described as "the inventor of soul music" ("You Send Me"; "A Change Is Gonna Come"), born in Clarksdale, Mississippi
- Jan 24 Ib Nørholm, Danish organist, composer (Aspects of Sand and Simplicity), choral conductor, and educator, born in Søborg, Gladsaxe (d. 2019) [1]
- Jan 25 Harold Lloyd Jr., American actor (Frankenstein's Daughter), cabaret singer, and son of famous silent film actor Harold Lloyd, Sr, born in Beverly Hills, California (d. 1971)
- Jan 25 Stig "Stikkan" Anderson, Swedish music entrepreneur and co-founder of Polar Music (ABBA), born in Hova, Sweden (d. 1997)
- Jan 27 Rudi Maugeri, Canadian doo-wop vocalist (Crew Cuts - "Sh-Boom"), and broadcaster, born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2004)
- Jan 29 Leslie Bricusse, British stage and film composer and lyricist (Doctor Dolittle; Goodbye, Mr. Chips; "Goldfinger"; Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory - "The Candy Man"; "Pure Imagination"), born in Pinner, Middlesex, England (d. 2021)
About January 1931
How Old? 93 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: No
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers