- Jan 1 Jaap Schröder, Dutch violinist, conductor, musicologist, and pedagogue (Academy of Ancient Music), dies at 94
- Jan 1 Marty Grebb, American rock session and touring keyboardist (The Buckinghams; Bonnie Raitt), dies at 74
- Jan 1 Tommy Hancock, American western swing fiddler and bandleader (Supernatural Family Band - "I Should Have Married Marie"; "Tacos for Two"), dies at 90
- Jan 3 Bo Winberg, Swedish instrumental rock guitarist (The Spotnicks - "Hava Nagila"; "Amapola"; "Karelia"), dies at 80
- Jan 7 Edward Applebaum, American jazz pianist and contemporary classical music composer (The Princess In The Garden), dies at 85
- Jan 7 Neil Peart, Canadian rock drummer and lyricist (Rush - "Limelight"; "Peaceable Kingdom"), dies from glioblastoma (brain cancer) at 67
- Jan 9 Bobby Comstock, American pop-rock singer (The Counts - "Let's Stomp"), dies at 78
- Jan 10 Wolfgang Dauner, German jazz-fusion pianist and composer (United Jazz + Rock Ensemble), dies at 84
- Jan 15 Chris Darrow, American country-rock pioneer, singer-songwriter, guitarist, fiddler, bassist, and banjo plucker (Kaleidoscope; Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, 1967-70), dies from complications following a stroke at 75
- Jan 16 Barry Tuckwell, Australian horn player (London Symphony, 1955-68), dies at 88
- Jan 17 Claudio Roditi, Brazilian jazz trumpeter, arranger, and composer, dies at 74
- Jan 19 Jimmy Heath, American jazz saxophonist and composer, known as "Little Bird", dies at 93
- Jan 19 Robert Parker, American saxophonist and soul singer ("Barefootin'"), dies at 89
- Jan 26 Bob Shane, American folk vocalist (Kingston Trio - "Tom Dooley"), dies at 85
- Jan 27 Alberto Naranjo, Venezuelan jazz drummer, composer and arranger, dies at 78
- Jan 28 Bob Nave, American rock and blues Hammond B-3 organist (Lemon Pipers - "Green Tambourine"), jazz radio DJ, and philanthropist, dies at 75
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers