- Jan 1 "Country" Joe McDonald, American rock singer and guitarist (Country Joe and the Fish - "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag"), born in Washington, D.C.
- Jan 1 George Couroupos, Greek contemporary classical composer, born in Athens, Greece
- Jan 1 Judy Stone, Australian pop singer ("4,003,221 Tears from Now"), born in Granville, Australia
- Jan 4 John McLaughlin, British jazz-rock fusion guitarist (Mahavishnu Orchestra), born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England
- Jan 5 Maurizio Pollini, Italian classical pianist, born in Milan, Italy (d. 2024) [1]
- Jan 7 Danny Williams, British pop singer, known as 'Britain's Johnny Mathis' ("Moon River"; "White on White"), born in Port Elizabeth, Union of South Africa (d. 2005)
- Jan 8 John Peterson, American drummer (Beau Brummels - "Just A Little"), born in Rudyard, Michigan (d. 2007)
- Jan 11 Clarence Clemons, American rock saxophonist (Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band), born in Norfolk County, Virginia (d. 2011)
- Jan 15 Edward "Sonny" Bivins, American singer (Manhattans - "Kiss and Say Goodbye"), born in Macon, Georgia
- Jan 16 Barbara Lynn [Ozen], American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist ("You'll Lose A Good Thing"), born in Beaumont, Texas
- Jan 16 Billy Francis, American keyboardist (Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show - "Cover of the Rolling Stone"), born in Sacramento, California (d. 2010)
- Jan 16 René Angélil, Canadian music executive, actor and director (Omertà, L'apparition), and husband of Céline Dion, born in Montréal, Québec (d. 2016)
- Jan 17 Ulf Hoelscher, German violinist, born in Kitzingen, Germany
- Jan 19 Michael Crawford [Michael Patrick Smith], British Broadway star (Phantom of the Opera), born in Salisbury, Wiltshire
- Jan 20 William Powell, American R&B singer (O'Jays - "Love Train"), born in Canton, Ohio (d. 1977)
- Jan 21 (Charles) Edwin Starr [Hatcher], American soul and R&B singer (War), born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 2003)
- Jan 21 Mac Davis, American country music singer-songwriter ("Baby, Don't Get Hooked On Me"; "In The Ghetto"; "I Believe In Music") and actor (North Dallas Forty), born in Lubbock, Texas (d. 2020) [1]
- Jan 21 Martin Sharp, Australian cartoonist, album cover artist songwriter (Cream), and filmmaker, born in Sydney, Australia (d. 2013)
- Jan 27 Kate Wolf [Allen], American folk singer-songwriter ("Love Still Remains"; "Across the Great Divide"), born in San Francisco, California (d. 1986)
- Jan 27 Petr Kotik, Czech composer, born in Prague, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (now Czech Republic)
- Jan 29 Claudine Longet, French-American singer, actress, and former Mrs Andy Williams (1961-75), born in Paris, France
- Jan 30 Marty Balin [Buchwald], American singer (Jefferson Airplane/Starship), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 2018)
- Jan 31 Gerald Chanberlain, American jazz trombonist (Woody Herman's Thundering Herd), born in Refugio, Texas (d. 2007)
About January 1942
How Old? 82 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: No
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers