- Jan 2 Bernard George Stevens, British composer, dies at 66
- Jan 12 (Anthony) "Rebop" Kwaku Baah, Nigerian percussionist (traffic, 1971-74), dies of cerebral hemorrhage during a performance in Stockholm, Sweden at 38
- Jan 13 Barry Galbraith, American jazz and studio guitarist (Claude Thornhill, Coleman Hawkins, Gil Evans), and educator, dies of cancer at 63
- Jan 18 Cedric Thorpe Davie, British composer of film scores (The Green Man; St. Andrews University), and pedagogue, dies at 69
- Jan 19 Don Costa, American composer (Hello, Dolly!), arranger, and record producer (Sinatra and Strings; My Way), dies at 57
- Jan 21 Lamar Williams, American musician (The Allman Brothers Band), dies of cancer at 34
- Jan 28 "Sweet" Emma Barrett, American Dixieland jazz pianist and singer, dies at 85
- Jan 28 Billy Fury [Ronald Wycherley], British rock singer ("When Will You Say I Love You"; "Halfway To Paradise") and actor (That'll Be The Day), dies of heart failure at 42
- Jan 31 Lorraine Ellison, American soul singer ("Stay with Me"; "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)"), and songwriter, dies of ovarian cancer at 51
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers