- Jan 1 Hephzibah Menuhin, American-Australian concert pianist, dies at 60
- Jan 2 David Lynch, American singer (Platters - "Twilight Time"; "Only You"; "The Great Pretender"), dies of cancer at 51
- Jan 3 (Charles) Felton Jarvis, American record producer (Elvis Presley, 1966-77; Charley Pride; Willie Nelson), and singer, dies from complications of a stroke at 46
- Jan 4 Ruth Lowe, Canadian pianist and composer ("I'll Never Smile Again"), dies at 66
- Jan 5 Guy Paquinet, French jazz trombonist, and bandleader, dies at 77
- Jan 7 Jose Ardevol, Cuban composer, dies at 69
- Jan 9 Kazimierz Serocki, Polish composer and co-founder of the Warsaw Autumn Festival, dies at 58
- Jan 9 Obdulio Morales, Cuban pianist, conductor, composer, ethnomusicologist, and Afro-Cuban bandleader, dies at 70
- Jan 23 Bobby Sherwood, American jazz and session guitarist (Bing Crosby, 1933-40), big band bandleader, and disc jockey, dies of cancer at 66
Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
Jan 23 American composer (School for Scandal; Adagio For Strings), dies of cancer at 70
- Jan 29 (William Randolph) "Cozy" Cole, American jazz drummer ("Topsy I"; "Topsy II"), and educator, dies of cancer at 71
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers