"Peter Pan"
Jan 9 Musical "Peter Pan", starring Mary Martin broadcast live, for a 2nd time, on NBC as part of "Producers' Showcase" series
Heartbreak Hotel
Jan 10 Elvis Presley records single "Heartbreak Hotel", written by Mae Boren Axton and Tommy Durden, at RCA Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
"Tutti Frutti"
Jan 14 Little Richard releases single "Tutti Frutti"
Shostakovich Honorary Status
Jan 15 Dmitri Shostakovich appointed honorary member of Academia Santa Cecilia
"Blue Days Black Night"
Jan 20 Buddy Holly records "Blue Days Black Night" in Nashville, Tennessee for country music producer Owen Bradley
"Comedy in Music"
Jan 21 Victor Borge's one-man show "Comedy in Music" closes at John Golden Theatre, NYC; runs for 849 performances, a Guinness world record
- Jan 27 RCA records releases Elvis Presley's single "Heartbreak Hotel", his first million-seller (written by Mae Boren Axton and Tommy Durden)
- Jan 28 Elvis Presley's 1st appearance on national TV on the Dorsey Brothers's "Stage Show"
- Jan 30 Elvis Presley records his cover version of Carl Perkins' song "Blue Suede Shoes"
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers