- Jan 1 Ashfaq Hussain, Urdu poet
- Jan 1 Frans Kellendonk, author (Ruin, The Good for Nothing)
- Jan 1 Hans-Joachim Stuck, German auto racer (24 Hours of Le Mans 1986-87, 96; 24 Hours of Nürburgring 1970, 98, 2004; World Sportscar C'ship 1985), born in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
- Jan 1 Nana Patekar, Indian Bollywood actor, writer, philanthropist and filmmaker (Parinda, Angaar), born in Murud-Janjira, Bombay State
- Jan 2 Alexander Pogrebinsky, Russian painter
- Jan 2 Nadia Cassini [Gianna Lou Muller], American model (Oui), born in Woodstock, New York
- Jan 3 Frank Chikane, Secretary-General of South African Council of Churches
- Jan 3 Gary Nairn, Australian politician
- Jan 4 Barbara Ann Cochran, Claremont NH, slalom skier (Olympic gold 1972)
- Jan 4 Pete Haycock, British blues-rock guitarist, vocalist, and composer (Climax Blues Band - "Couldn't Get It Right"), born in Stafford, England (d. 2013)
- Jan 5 Steve Arnold, English footballer, born in Willesden, London
- Jan 6 Don Gullett, American baseball player, born in Lynn, Kentucky
- Jan 6 Kim Wilson, American musician (Fabulous Thunderbirds), born in Detroit, Michigan
- Jan 7 Mike Ward, American politician, born in White Plains, New York
- Jan 7 Talgat Musabayev, Kazakh test pilot & cosmonaut (TM-19, TM-27), born in Kargaly, Kazakhstan
- Jan 8 John McTiernan, American actor (Predator, Die Hard, Medicine Man), born in Albany, New York
- Jan 8 Kenny Anthony, Saint Lucian politician, born in Laborie, Saint Lucia
- Jan 8 Paul Dresher, American composer, born in Los Angeles, California
Crystal Gayle (72 years old)
Jan 9 American country singer ("Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"; "One From The Heart"), born in Paintsville, Kentucky
- Jan 10 Kathleen Bradley, American model (Price is Right), born in Girard, Ohio
- Jan 11 Willie Maddren, English soccer defender (Middlesborough 293 games) and manager (Middlesborough 1984-86), born in Billingham, England (d. 2000)
- Jan 12 Ann Althouse, American law professor, born in Wilmington, Delaware
- Jan 12 Bill Madlock, American MLB baseball third baseman, 3X All-Star, 4X NL Batting Title (Chicago Cubs; Pittsburgh Pirates and 4 other teams), born in Memphis, Tennessee
- Jan 12 Chris Bell, American rock guitarist (Big Star - "In The Street"), born in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 1978)
- Jan 12 Drew Pearson, American Pro Football HOF wide receiver (Super Bowl 1977; Pro Bowl, First-team All-Pro 1974, 76, 77; Dallas Cowboys), born in South River, New Jersey
- Jan 12 Kirstie Alley, American Emmy Award-winning actress (Cheers - "Rebecca"; Look Who's Talking; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan), born in Wichita, Kansas (d. 2022) [1]
- Jan 12 Larry Hoppens, American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (Orleans - "Still the One"; "Dance With Me"), born in Long Island, New York (d. 2012)
Rush Limbaugh (1951-2021)
Jan 12 American conservative political talk radio personality, born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
- Jan 14 Gil Pak Jong, North Korean judoka (Olympic-1976)
- Jan 14 Peter Collins, English record producer (The Lambrettas; Rush; Indigo Girls: October Project), born in Reading, England
Charo (72 years old)
Jan 15 Spanish-American actress, comedienne (Chico and the Man: The Love Boat), and flamenco guitarist, born in Murcia, Spain
- Jan 16 Richard "Rick" Thompson, American funk-disco guitarist (B. T. Express - "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)")
- Jan 17 Rolando Thoeni, Italian slalom (Olympic bronze 1972), born in Trafoi
- Jan 17 Yury Zaitsev, Russian weightlifter (Olympic gold USSR 110kg 1976), born in Pobedino, Sakhalin Oblast, Russia (d. 2022)
- Jan 18 Bob Latchford, English footballer, born in Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Jan 18 Bram Behr, Surinamese journalist, born in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles (d. 1982)
- Jan 18 Elijah Cummings, American politician (Rep-Maryland (D) 1996-2019), born in Baltimore, Maryland (d. 2019)
- Jan 19 Martha Davis, American rock singer-songwriter (Motels - "Only the Lonely"; "Shame"), born in Berkeley, California
- Jan 20 Ivan Fischer, Hungarian conductor and composer, born in Budapest, Hungary
- Jan 20 Magomed Omarovich Tolboyev, Russian cosmonaut & test-pilot, born in Sogratl', Russia
Eric Holder (72 years old)
Jan 21 American lawyer and judge (1st African American US Attorney General 2009-2015), born in The Bronx, New York
- Jan 22 Dick Sims, American Hammond B-3 organist (Bob Seger; Eric Clapton), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma (d. 2011)
- Jan 22 Ondrej Nepela, Slovak figure skater (Olympic gold men's singles 1972; World C'ships gold 1971, 72, 73), born in Bratislava, Slovakia (d. 1989)
Chesley Sullenberger (72 years old)
Jan 23 American pilot (successfully executed emergency landing US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River), born in Denison, Texas
- Jan 23 Margaret Johnson Bailes, American 4x100 runner (Olympic gold 1968), born in The Bronx, New York
- Jan 23 Michael R. Matz, American horse trainer & equestrian (Olympic silver 1996), born in Collegeville, Pennsylvania
- Jan 24 Yakov Smirnoff, Ukrainian-American comedian (It's a wonderful country), born in Odessa, Ukraine
- Jan 25 Hans-Jürgen Dörner, German soccer defender (96 caps; Dynamo Dresden 400 games) and manager (Werder Bremen), born in Görlitz, Germany (d. 2022)
- Jan 25 Steve Prefontaine, American runner (5K 1972 Olympic 4th), born in Coos Bay, Oregon (d. 1975)
- Jan 26 Andy Hummell, American rock bassist (Big Star, 1971-73), born in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (d. 2010)
- Jan 26 Christopher North, American rock keyboardist (Ambrosia - "The Biggest Part Of Me"), born in San Francisco, California
- Jan 26 David Briggs, Australian rock guitarist (Little River Band, 1976-81 - "Lonesome Loser"), born in Melbourne, Australia
- Jan 26 Jarmila Kratochvilova, Czech athlete (World C'ship gold 400/800m 1983; Olympic silver 400m 1980), born in Golčův Jeníkov, Czech Republic
- Jan 26 Walt Willey, American actor (Jackson Montgomery-All My Children), born in Ottawa, Illinois
- Jan 27 Brian Downey, Irish rock drummer (Thin Lizzy - "The Boys Are Back in Town"), born in Dublin, Ireland
- Jan 27 Scott Lane, American actor (Gary-McKeever & the Colonel), born in NYC, New York
- Jan 27 Seth Justman, American rock keyboardist (J Geils Band - "Freeze Frame"), born in Washington, D.C.
- Jan 28 Brian Bilbray, American politician
- Jan 28 Gordon Prentice, British MP
- Jan 28 Leonid Konstantinovich Kadenyuk, Kkishkov Ukraine, astronaut (STS 87)
- Jan 28 William "Billy Bass" Nelson Jr, American funk-rock-soul bassist (Funkadelic), born in Plainfield, New Jersey
- Jan 29 Andy Roberts, West Indian cricket fast bowler (47 Tests, 202 wickets, BB 7/54; Hampshire CCC, Leeward Islands, Leicestershire CCC), born in Urlings Village, Antigua
- Jan 29 Gegham Grigorian, Armenian operatic tenor, and artistic director (Yerevan Opera, 2000-07), born in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union (d. 2016)
- Jan 29 Stevie "Keys" Roseman, American session and touring rock keyboardist (Journey), born in Oakland, California
- Jan 30 (Clifford) "Andy" Anderson, British session and touring drummer (Steve Hillage; The Cure, 1983-84), born in Essex, England (d. 2019)
- Jan 30 Charles S. Dutton, American actor (Alien 3; Crocodile Dundee 2; Roc), born in Baltimore, Maryland
Phil Collins (72 years old)
Jan 30 British Oscar, Grammy, Novello, and Brit Award-winning rock drummer, pop singer-songwriter (Genesis - "Invisible Touch"; "I Can't Dance"; solo - "In The Air Tonight"; "Against All Odds"), and actor (Buster), born in Chiswick, England
- Jan 30 Trevor Laughlin, Australian cricketer (Australian all-rounder 1978-79), born in Nyah West, Australia
- Jan 31 Dave Benton, Aruban-born musician, born in Oranjestad, Aruba
- Jan 31 Juan de Dios Castillo, Mexican footballer and soccer coach (Honduras; Copa Centroamericana 2011), born in Mexico City, Mexico (d. 2014)
- Jan 31 KC [Harry Wayne Casey], American disco and funk singer-songwriter and producer (KC & the Sunshine Band - ""That's the Way (I Like It)"; "Get Down Tonight"), born in Opa-locka, Florida
- Jan 31 Phil Manzanera, English rock guitarist and record producer (Roxy Music - "Love Is The Drug"; "Avalon"), born in London, United Kingdom
- Jan 31 Presiley Baxendale, British QC, born in London, England
About January 1951
How Old? 72 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Leap Year: No