- Jan 1 Daniel E Gawthrop, American composer, primarily of choral music, born in Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Jan 2 Michael "Chick" Churchill, British blues-rock keyboardist (Ten Years After - "I'm Going Home"), born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England
- Jan 5 George Brown, American R&B and funk drummer (Kool & the Gang - "Celebration"), born in Jersey City, New Jersey (d. 2023) [1]
- Jan 5 Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez, American operatic soprano, and actress (Diva), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2024) [1]
- Jan 6 Chris Laurence, British classical, jazz and session double bassist, born in London
- Jan 7 Marshall Chapman, American country singer, born in Spartanburg, South Carolina
- Jan 9 Tommy Talton, American session and touring Southern rock guitarist, dobro player, and songwriter (Cowboy), born in Orlando, Florida
- Jan 11 (Frederick) "Denny" Greene, American singer (Sha Na Na, 1968-84), born in New York (d. 2015)
- Jan 11 Daryl Braithwaite, Australian pop singer (Sherbert), born in Melbourne
- Jan 12 Kentaro Haneda, Japanese composer, born in Tokyo, Japan (d. 2007)
- Jan 14 Lamar Williams, American musician (The Allman Brothers Band), born in Gulfport, Mississippi (d. 1983)
- Jan 14 Maurice T. "Maury" Muehleisen, American musician and songwriter (Jim Croce), born in Trenton, New Jersey (d. 1973)
- Jan 16 Caroline Munro, British actress (Golden Voyage of Sinbad; Hammer Horror films), and singer ("Tar and Cement"; "Pump Me Up"), born in Windsor, England
- Jan 17 Billy T. James [William James Te Wehi Taitoko], New Zealand Maori comedian and singer (The Billy T. James Show), born in Cambridge, New Zealand (d. 1991)
- Jan 18 Christian Blackshaw, British concert pianist, born in Cheshire, England
- Jan 19 Robert Palmer, English singer-songwriter (Power Station), born in Batley, England (d. 2003)
- Jan 22 James "J.P." Pennington, American country-pop singer and guitarist (Exile), born in Berea, Kentucky
- Jan 22 Steve Perry, American rock vocalist (Journey, 1977-87; 95-97 - "Don't Stop Believin'"; "Open Arms"), born in Hanford, California
- Jan 22 Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez, American drummer (E Street Band, 1972-74), born in Neptune, New Jersey
John Belushi (1949-1982)
Jan 24 American comedian (SNL, 1975-80), actor (Animal House), and singer (The Blues Brothers), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Jan 26 Derek Holt, British rock guitarist (Curved Air; Climax Blues Band - "Couldn't Get It Right"), born in Stafford, England
- Jan 27 Jaya Suprana [Phoa Kok Tjiang], Indonesian pianist, composer, conductor, writer, educator, and television presenter, born in Denpasar, Bali
- Jan 28 Eddie Bayers, American session drummer, based in Nashville, born in Patuxent, Maryland
- Jan 28 Gene McFadden, American singer, songwriter, and record producer (Philadelphia International Records; McFadden & Whitehead - "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"), born in Olanta, South Carolina (d. 2006) [1]
- Jan 29 Tommy Ramone [Tamás Erdélyi], Hungarian-American rock drummer and bassist (Ramones), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 2014)
- Jan 30 William King, American singer, trumpet player, songwriter, guitarist, percussionist, and choreographer (The Commodores - "Lady"), born in Birmingham, Alabama
- Jan 31 Frank Ricotti, British jazz and session vibraphonist and percussionist, born in London, England
About January 1949
How Old? 75 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Leap Year: No
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers