- Jan 4 Pete Haycock, British blues-rock guitarist, vocalist, and composer (Climax Blues Band - "Couldn't Get It Right"), born in Stafford, England (d. 2013)
- Jan 6 Kim Wilson, American musician (Fabulous Thunderbirds), born in Detroit, Michigan
- Jan 8 Paul Dresher, American composer, born in Los Angeles, California
Crystal Gayle (73 years old)
Jan 9 American country singer ("Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"; "One From The Heart"), born in Paintsville, Kentucky
- Jan 12 Chris Bell, American rock guitarist (Big Star - "In The Street"), born in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 1978)
- Jan 12 Larry Hoppens, American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (Orleans - "Still the One"; "Dance With Me"), born in Long Island, New York (d. 2012)
- Jan 14 Peter Collins, English record producer (The Lambrettas; Rush; Indigo Girls: October Project), born in Reading, England
Charo (73 years old)
Jan 15 Spanish-American actress, comedienne (Chico and the Man; The Love Boat), and flamenco guitarist, born in Murcia, Spain [year disputed]
- Jan 16 Rick Thompson, American funk-disco guitarist (B. T. Express - "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)"), born in Fairfax, South Carolina
- Jan 19 Martha Davis, American rock singer-songwriter (Motels - "Only the Lonely"; "Shame"), born in Berkeley, California
- Jan 20 Ivan Fischer, Hungarian conductor and composer, born in Budapest, Hungary
- Jan 21 Ben Mink, Canadian guitarist, violinist, mandolin player, songwriter, and record producer (k.d. lang, Barenaked Ladies, Heart), born in Toronto, Ontario
- Jan 22 Dick Sims, American Hammond B-3 organist (Bob Seger; Eric Clapton), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma (d. 2011)
- Jan 26 Andy Hummell, American rock bassist (Big Star, 1971-73), born in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (d. 2010)
- Jan 26 Christopher North, American rock keyboardist (Ambrosia - "The Biggest Part Of Me"), born in San Francisco, California
- Jan 26 David Briggs, Australian rock guitarist (Little River Band, 1976-81 - "Lonesome Loser"), born in Melbourne, Australia
- Jan 27 Brian Downey, Irish rock drummer (Thin Lizzy - "The Boys Are Back in Town"), born in Dublin, Ireland
- Jan 27 Seth Justman, American rock keyboardist (J Geils Band - "Freeze Frame"), born in Washington, D.C.
- Jan 28 William "Billy Bass" Nelson Jr, American funk-rock-soul bassist (Funkadelic), born in Plainfield, New Jersey
- Jan 29 Gegham Grigorian, Armenian operatic tenor, and artistic director (Yerevan Opera, 2000-07), born in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union (d. 2016)
- Jan 29 Stevie "Keys" Roseman, American session and touring rock keyboardist (Journey), born in Oakland, California
- Jan 30 (Clifford) "Andy" Anderson, British session and touring drummer (Steve Hillage; The Cure, 1983-84), born in Essex, England (d. 2019)
Phil Collins (73 years old)
Jan 30 British Oscar, Grammy, Novello, and Brit Award-winning rock drummer, pop singer-songwriter (Genesis - "Invisible Touch"; "I Can't Dance"; solo - "In The Air Tonight"; "Against All Odds"), and actor (Buster), born in Chiswick, England
- Jan 31 Dave Benton, Aruban-born musician, born in Oranjestad, Aruba
- Jan 31 KC [Harry Wayne Casey], American disco and funk singer-songwriter and producer (KC & the Sunshine Band - "That's the Way (I Like It)"; "Get Down Tonight"), born in Opa-locka, Florida
- Jan 31 Phil Manzanera, English rock guitarist and record producer (Roxy Music - "Love Is The Drug"; "Avalon"), born in London
About January 1951
How Old? 73 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Leap Year: No
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers