- Jan 1 Juan Guinjoan, Catalan composer and pianist, dies at 87
- Jan 2 Daryl Dragon, American keyboardist (The Beach Boys (touring); Captain & Tennille - "Love Will Keep Us Together"), dies of kidney failure at 76
- Jan 5 Eric Haydock [Haddock], British rock bassist (The Hollies, 1962-66 - "Look Through Any Window"), dies at 75
- Jan 7 Clydie Mae King, American session and touring vocalist (Ray Charles; Bob Dylan; Humble Pie; Lynyrd Skynrd), dies of a blood infection at 75
- Jan 7 John Joubert, British South African composer (The Raising of Lazarus; An English Requiem), and educator, dies at 91
- Jan 7 Paul Gutama Soegijo, Indonesian composer working in Germany, dies at 84
- Jan 8 Patricia McBride Lousada, American ballerina (Ballet Society/New York City Ballet, 1946-51), and cookbook author (Pasta Italian Style), dies at 89
- Jan 12 Bonnie Guitar [Buckingham], American guitarist, singer and record executive (Dark Moon), dies at 95
- Jan 15 Carol Channing, American comic actress, and singer (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; Hello Dolly), dies at 97
- Jan 15 Steve Madaio, American session and touring trumpet player (Paul Butterfield; Stevie Wonder; Rolling Stones), dies of a heart attack at 70
- Jan 16 Rita Vidaurri, American Ranchera singer, dies at 94
- Jan 17 Lajos Papp, Hungarian composer (Otoño / Autumn), and educator, dies at 83
- Jan 17 Reggie Young, American session guitarist (The Memphis Boys), dies of heart failure at 82 [1]
- Jan 19 Mario Bertoncini, Italian composer, dies at 86
- Jan 19 Ted McKenna, Scottish drummer (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band; Rory Gallagher), dies from surgery complication at 68
- Jan 21 Kaye Ballard, American stage and screen actress, comedienne, and singer (Mothers-in-Law - "Kaye"), dies at 93
- Jan 21 Maxine Brown, American country music singer (Browns), dies at 87
- Jan 23 Oliver Mtukudzi, Zimbabwean Afro-Jazz and 'tuku' singer-songwriter and guitarist (Sarawoga; Tolerance; Tuku Music), dies of diabetes complications at 66 [1]
- Jan 26 Michel Legrand, French composer, film score arranger and jazz musician (Summer of '42; "Windmills of Your Mind"), dies at 86
- Jan 26 Wilma Lipp, Austrian soprano (Vienna Opera, 1945-81; Mozart's Die Zauberflöte - "Queen of the Night"), dies at 93
- Jan 29 James Ingram, American R&B singer-songwriter and musician ("Somewhere Out There"; "Just Once"), dies of brain cancer at 66
- Jan 30 Glen Dale [Richard Garforth], British rock guitarist (The Fortunes, 1963-66 - "You've Got Your Troubles"; "Here It Comes Again"), dies at 79
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers