- Jan 5 Charles Mingus, American jazz bassist (Pithecanthropus Erectus), dies from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at 56
- Jan 7 Zbigniew Turski, Polish composer, dies at 70
- Jan 8 Sara Carter, American country musician, songwriter and vocalist (Carter Family), dies at 81
- Jan 9 Avery Claflin, American banker and composer ("Lament for April 15" - income tax form instructions set to music), dies at 80 [1]
- Jan 13 Donny Hathaway, American gospel and soul singer-songwriter, and keyboardist ("The Ghetto"; "Where is the Love?"), commits suicide at 33
- Jan 13 Marjorie Lawrence, Australian operatic soprano who specialized in Wagnerian roles, dies of heart failure at 71
- Jan 15 Euphemia Giannini Gregory, Italian-American opera singer and educator (Curtis Institute), dies at 83
- Jan 16 Fred Elizalde, Spanish Filipino composer, dies at 71
- Jan 18 Cyril Mockridge, British composer for film and television (Miracle On 34th Street; The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance), dies at 82
- Jan 20 Gustav Winckler, Danish pop singer ("Skibet skal sejle i nat"- "The Ship Is Leaving Tonight"), dies in a car crash at 53
- Jan 31 Grant Green, American jazz, blues and funk guitarist, and songwriter, dies of a heart attack at 43
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers