- Jan 3 Lucien Cailliet, French-American composer, conductor and teacher (Philadelphia Orchestra, 1919-1937), dies at 93
- Jan 4 Lovro von Matačić, Croatian conductor and composer (Bruckner Medal), dies at 86
- Jan 7 Johnny Guarnieri, American stride and jazz stride pianist, and harpsichordist (The Gramercy Five; The Morey Amsterdam Show), dies of a heart attack at 67
- Jan 10 Anton Karas, Austrian zither player and composer (The Third Man), dies at 78
- Jan 17 Jimmy DeBerry, American blues guitarist, banjo player, and singer, dies at 73
- Jan 20 Jo Juda, Dutch musician (1st concertmaster of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra), dies at 75
- Jan 31 Barbara Cowsill, American singer and rock band mother (The Cowsills - "Hair"; "We Can Fly"), dies of emphysema at 56
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers