- Jan 1 Gary "BB" Coleman, American blues record producer, singer, and guitarist ("If You Can Beat Me Rockin' (You Can Have My Chair)"), born in Paris, Texas (d. 1994)
- Jan 1 Paula Tsui, Hong Kong Canto-pop singer, born in Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Jan 3 James Mtume [Forman], American Grammy Award-winning jazz and R&B percussionist, songwriter, record producer (Miles Davis, 1971-75; "Juicy Fruit"), social activist, and radio personality, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2022)
- Jan 4 Chris Cutler, English musician, percussionist, and composer (Henry Cow, Art Bears), born in Washington D.C.
- Jan 4 John King, American rock drummer (Steve Miller Band, 1972-74), born in Kingsport, Tennessee (d. 2010)
- Jan 6 Jacques Bolognesi, French jazz trombonist and accordion player (Hermetotico), born in Gap, France
- Jan 6 Sandy Denny, English singer-songwriter (Fairport Convention - "If You Gotta Go"), born in London (d. 1978)
- Jan 7 David Porcelijn, Dutch composer and conductor, born in Achtkarspelen, Netherlands
David Bowie (1947-2016)
Jan 8 English rock singer-songwriter ("Space Oddity"; "Changes"; "Ziggy Stardust"; "Heroes"), mime, and actor (Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence; Labyrinth), born in London, England
- Jan 8 Terry Sylvester, English guitarist and singer (Hollies, 1969-81 - "YHe Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother";"Lomg Cool Woman In A Black Dress"), born in Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Jan 11 Bill Narum, American counter-culture figure, illustrator and rock poster and album art designer (ZZ Top), born in Austin, Texas (d. 2009) [1]
- Jan 11 Tom Netherton, American pop and Christian music singer (Lawrence Welk Show), born in Munich. Germany (d. 2018)
- Jan 13 Chris Thomas, British sound engineer and record producer (Beatles; Pink Floyd; Procol Harem; Elton John; The Pretenders), born in Brentford, Middlesex, England
- Jan 13 Drew Abbott, American rock guitarist (Silver Bullet Band, 1974-83), born in Royal Oak, Michigan
- Jan 13 John Lees, British progressive rock guitarist and vocalist (Barclay James Harvest), born in Oldham, England
- Jan 15 Pete Waterman, English record producer (Stock Aitken & Waterman - "Road Block"), born in Stoke Heath, Coventry, England
- Jan 16 James "Sandy" Pinkard, American country music songwriter, born in Abbeville, Louisiana
- Jan 17 Ulysses Dove, American dancer and choreographer, born in Columbia, South Carolina (d. 1996)
- Jan 19 Roderic "Rod" Evans, English rocker (The Maze, Deep Purple), born in Eton, Buckinghamshire, England
- Jan 20 George Grantham, American drummer and vocalist (Poco - "Crazy Eyes"), born in Cordell, Oklahoma
- Jan 21 (Julian) "Pye" Hastings, British singer and musician (Caravan - "In The Land of Grey and Pink"), born in Tomnavoulin, Banffshire, Scotland
- Jan 21 Jimmy Ibbotson, American country and folk-rock singer (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jan 21 Michel Jonasz, French pop and jazz singer-songwriter, and composer, born in Drancy, France
- Jan 24 Warren Zevon, American rock singer-songwriter, and piano player ("Werewolves of London"; "Lawyers, Guns and Money"; "Excitable Boy"), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2003)
- Jan 26 Michel Sardou, French pop singer and songwriter, born in Paris, France
- Jan 27 Björn Afzelius, Swedish rock and progg singer-songwriter and guitarist (Hoola Bandoola Band), born in Huskvarna, Sweden (d. 1999)
- Jan 27 Calvin "Cal" Schenkel, American illustrator, graphic designer, and album cover designer (Frank Zappa; Captain Beefheart; Tom Waits), born in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
- Jan 27 Nedra Telley, American pop and Christian music vocalist (Ronettes - "Be My Baby"), born in New York City
- Jan 29 David Byron [Garrick], British vocalist and songwriter (Uriah Heep), born in Epping, England (d. 1985)
- Jan 29 Marián Varga, Slovak musician (Prúdy), born in Skalica, Czechoslovakia (d. 2017)
- Jan 30 Martin Christoph Redel, German composer, born in Detmold, Germany
- Jan 30 Steve Marriott, British rock guitarist and singer-songwriter (Small Faces, 1965-68, 75-78); Humble Pie, 1969-75, 79-83 - Eat It), born in Manor Park, London (d. 1991)
- Jan 31 Earl Okin, British jazz guitarist, songwriter and comic (Musical Genius and Sex Symbol), born in Carshalton, Surrey, England
- Jan 31 Jim Nollman, American theatre composer, born in Boston, Massachusetts
About January 1947
How Old? 77 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Leap Year: No
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers