- Jan 1 Constantin Poustochkine, Dutch jazz musician and critic, dies at 81
- Jan 3 Anthony Del Casino, bandleader (Charlie Barnet Band), dies at 79
- Jan 3 Lewis Michael Friedman, American pianist, dies at 47 of AIDS
- Jan 4 Teddy Grace [Stella Crowson], American jazz and blues singer, dies at 86 [1]
- Jan 8 Johnny Meijer, Dutch accordionist known as the King of Accordions (Body & Soul), dies at 79
- Jan 15 (David) Dee Murray [Oates], British bassist (Elton John backing band), dies after a stroke at 45
- Jan 17 Charlie Ventura [Venturo], American jazz tenor saxophonist and bandleader (Bop for the People), dies of lung cancer at 75
- Jan 18 John Remme, American stage and screen actor and singer, dies of AIDS at 56
- Jan 19 Manabendra Mukhopadhyay, Bengali singer and composer (Ei Ganga ei Padda), dies at 60
- Jan 21 (William Thomas) "Champion Jack" Dupree, American boxer, blues and boogie-woogie pianist, singer-songwriter (Walkin' The Blues), and WWII P.O.W., dies of cancer at 81
- Jan 25 Nico Schuyt, Dutch composer, dies at 70
- Jan 28 Clark Tippet, American dancer and choreographer (American Ballet Theatre), dies at 37
- Jan 29 Willie Dixon, American blues musician ("Backdoor Man"), dies at 76
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers