- Jan 2 Vladimir Ussachevsky, Manchurian-American composer (Creation), dies at 78
- Jan 3 Arthur Gold, American pianist, half of Gold and Fizdale duo (b. 1917)
- Jan 12 Paul Amadeus Pisk, Austrian-American composer, musicologist, and educator, dies at 96
- Jan 17 Fritz "Freddie" Brocksieper, German big band jazz drummer, and bandleader, dies at 77
- Jan 18 Melanie Appleby, English singer (Mel & Kim), dies of liver cancer at 23
- Jan 19 (Alberto) Semprini, British pianist and radio broadcaster (BBC's Semprini Serenade), dies at 81
- Jan 20 Hayedeh [Ma'soumeh Dadehbala], Persian classical, pop, and folk singer, dies of a heart attack at 47
- Jan 23 (Larken) Allen Collins, American southern rock guitarist, and songwriter (Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Free Bird"; "Gimme Three Steps"; Rossington-Collins Band - "Don't Misunderstand Me"), dies from chronic pneumonia, a complication of the paralysis suffered in a drunk driving accident, at 37
- Jan 23 [Piet] "Peter" Sweval, American rock bassist (Looking Glass - "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" ; Starz - "Cherry Baby"), dies of AIDS at 42
- Jan 26 Miloslav Ištvan, Czech composer, dies at 61
- Jan 28 Sandra "Puma" Jones, American reggae singer (Black Uhuru, 1979-86), dies of breast cancer at 36
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers