- Jan 3 Rusty Golden, American pop, country, and gospel singer-songwriter and musician (The Boys Band; The Goldens), born in Brewton, Alabama
- Jan 4 Vanity [Denise Matthews] Canadian-American pop and R&B singer, Prince protégé, and actress (52 Pick Up), born in Niagara Falls, Ontario (d. 2016)
- Jan 6 Kathy Sledge, American vocalist (Sister Sledge - "We are Family"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jan 7 Kathy Valentine, American bassist (Go-Go's - "We Got the Beat"), born in Austin, Texas
- Jan 8 Paul Hester, Australian drummer (Split Enz; Crowded House, 1985-94 -"Don't Dream It's Over"; "It's Only Natural"), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 2005)
- Jan 9 Cristi Minculescu, Romanian musician, born in Pitești, Romania
- Jan 10 Curt Kirkwood, American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter (Meat Puppets), born in Amarillo, Texas
- Jan 12 Blixa Bargeld, German singer and musician (Einstürzende Neubauten; Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), born in West Berlin; West Germany
- Jan 12 Per Helmstad Gessle, Swedish pop singer (Roxette - "Must Have Been Love"), born in Halmstad, Sweden
- Jan 13 James Lomenzo, American heavy metal bassist (White Lion; David Lee Roth; Megadeth, 2006-10), born in Brooklyn, New York
- Jan 14 Chas Smash, English rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (Madness - "Our House"), born in Fitzrovia, London
- Jan 14 Geoff Tate, German-born American singer and musician (Queensryche - "Breaking the Silence"), born in Stuttgart, Germany
- Jan 15 Pete Trewavas, British bassist, (Marillion - Clutching at Straws), born in Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
- Jan 16 Sade [Helen Folasade Adu], Nigerian-born British singer-songwriter, arranger, and record producer ("Soldier of Love"; "Smooth Operator"), born in Ibadan, Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria
- Jan 17 Momoe Yamaguchi, Japanese singer and actress, born in Ebisu, Tokyo, Japan
- Jan 17 Susanna Hoffs, American pop musician (The Bangles - "Walk Like an Egyptian"), and actress, born in Los Angeles, California
- Jan 18 Bob Rosenberg, American musician (Will To Power - "Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jan 19 Jeff Pilson, American rock bassist (Dokken, 1983-88 & 1995-2000; Dio 1993-2004 ; Foreigner (2006-present), born in Lake Forest, Illinois
- Jan 23 Earl Falconer, British reggae bassist (UB40 - "Red, Red Wine"), born in Meriden, England
- Jan 28 Bill Ware III, American jazz vibraphonist (The Jazz Passengers), born in East Orange, New Jersey
- Jan 28 Burkhard Dallwitz, German-Australian film and television score composer (The Truman Show), born in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany
- Jan 28 Dave Sharp, British rock guitarist (The Alarm - "Rain In the Summertime"; "68 Guns"), born in Salford, Lancashire, England
- Jan 30 Jody Watley, American R&B singer (Shalamar; "Looking For a New Love"), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Jan 30 Mark Eitzel, American guitarist and singer-songwriter (American Music Club - "Wish the World Away"), born in Walnut Creek, California
About January 1959
How Old? 65 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Leap Year: No
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers