- Jan 1 Otto Olsson, Swedish organist (Gustaf Vasa Church, 1907-56), composer, and teacher (Royal Swedish Academy, 1908-45), dies at 84
- Jan 4 (Arthur) "Artie" Bernstein, American jazz and session double bassist (The Dorsey Brothers), dies at 54
- Jan 7 Colin McPhee, Canadian-American pianist, composer (Tabuh-Tabuhan; H2O; Mechanical Principles), and ethnomusicologist (Bali), dies at 63
- Jan 7 Cyril Davies, American musician (b. 1932)
- Jan 9 Frank "Big Boy" Goudie, American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist, and upholsterer, dies of cancer at 64
- Jan 15 (Weldon Leo) "Jack" Teagarden, American jazz trombonist (Paul Whiteman, 1933-38; Louis Armstrong's All-Stars, 1946-51), singer ("Basin Street Blues"), and bandleader, dies from bronchial pneumonia at 58
- Jan 20 Jan Rychlik, Czech composer, dies at 47
- Jan 22 Marc Blitzstein, American opera and theater composer, librettist (The Cradle Will Rock), and translator (Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill works), killed by a sailor at 58
- Jan 23 Louis Horst, American dance choreographer and composer, dies at 80
- Jan 27 Lieb Glantz, Ukrainian-born tenor, composer and Zionist, dies at 65
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers