- Jan 1 Fr David, rocker, born in Paris, France
- Jan 2 Dawn Silva, American singer (The Brides of Funkenstein, P-Funk)
- Jan 3 Ross The Boss [Ross Friedman], American guitarist (The Dictators), born in the Bronx, New York
- Jan 4 Eugene Chadbourne, American composer and musician
- Jan 5 Bryan Hitt, rocker (REO Speedwagon-Keep on Loving You)
- Jan 9 Lance Hoppens, rocker (Orleans-Still the One, Dance With Me)
- Jan 19 Katey Sagal, singer/actress (Peggy Bundy-Married With Children), born in Los Angeles, California
- Jan 23 Edward Ka-spel, English singer/songwriter (Legendary Pink Dots)
- Jan 23 Franco De Vita, Venezuelan spanish singer (Extranjero), born in Caracas
- Jan 23 Rick Finch, rocker (KC & Sunshine Band-Give It)
- Jan 23 Richard Finch, American composer, producer, engineer, and song arranger (KC and the Sunshine Band), born in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Jan 28 Shawn Murray, rock drummer (Mink Deville)
- Jan 29 Dick Manitoba, vocalist (Dictators)
- Jan 30 Alides Hidding, singer/guitarist (Time Bandits)
- Jan 31 Adrian Vandenberg, Amsterdam Neth, rock guitarist (Whitesnake)
- Feb 1 Chuck Dukowski, American musician (Black Flag)
- Feb 2 Hansi Hinterseer, Austrian singer, actor, former skier
- Feb 5 Cliff Martinez, American musician
- Feb 6 Scott Kempner, "Top Ten" rocker (Del Lords)
- Feb 7 Dieter Bohlen German composer
- Feb 11 Noriyuki Asakura, Japanese composer
- Feb 12 Tzimis Panousis, Greek musician and stand-up comedian
John Travolta
Feb 18 John Travolta, American actor (Grease, Pulp Fiction), born in Englewood, New Jersey
John Travolta
- Feb 19 Frances Bucholz, rocker (Scorpions-Wind of Change)
- Feb 19 Jamie West-Oram, rock guitarist (Fixx)
- Feb 20 Jon Brant, rock bassist (Cheap Trick)
- Feb 25 John Doe, American musician
- Feb 27 Neal Schon, rock guitarist (Journey-Open Arms, Bad English)
- Mar 1 Janis Gill, singer (Sweethearts of Rodeo-Midnight Girl), born in Torrance, California
- Mar 3 Chris Hughes, English record producer and rock drummer (Adam & The Ants), born in London, England
- Mar 7 Matt Frenette, rock drummer (Loverboy)
- Mar 8 Cheryl Baker, rock vocalist (Bucks Fizz-My Camera Never Lies)
- Mar 9 Charmain Elaine Sylvers, American rocker (The Sylvers), born in Watts, Los Angeles
- Mar 14 Adrian Zmed, actor (TJ Hooker, Dance Fever), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Mar 14 Jann Browne, country singer (Mexican Wind)
- Mar 16 Jimmy Nail, singer/actor (Evita, Spender, Howling II)
- Mar 16 Nancy Wilson, rock guitarist (Heart-Never, What about Love), born in San Francisco, California
- Mar 17 Lesley-Anne Down, actress (A Little Night Music, Moonraker), born in London, England
- Mar 17 Rena Jones, rock vocalist
- Mar 20 Jim Seales, Hamilton Ala, singer (Shenandoah-Sunday in the South)
- Mar 31 Tony Brock, England, rock drummer (Isn't It Time, Every Time I Think of You)
- Apr 1 Jeff Porcaro, drummer/percussionist (Toto-Roxanne, Africa), born in Los Angeles, California
- Apr 1 Susumu Hirasawa, Japanese electropop musician, born in Nakagawa, Adachi, Tokyo
- Apr 3 Elisabetta Brusa, Italian composer, born in Milan
- Apr 4 Michel Camilo, Dominican pianist (Rendezvous), born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- Apr 5 Stan Ridgway, American singer-songwriter (Wall Of Voodoo), born in Bartsow, California
- Apr 10 Lenny Pickett, American saxophonist and musical director (Saturday Night Live band, Tower of Power), born in Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Apr 12 Pat Travers, Canadian rock guitarist (Puttin' it Straight), born in Toronto, Ontario
- Apr 13 Jimmy Destri, rock keyboardist (Blondie-Heart of Glass, Rapture)
- Apr 13 Niels Olsen, Danish singer
- Apr 15 Emmanuel, spanish singer, born in Mexico City, Mexico
- Apr 17 Michael Sembello, American Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter, composer and producer (Maniac, Flashdance), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Apr 17 Michael Sembello, American Grammy-award winning singer songwriter, composer and producer (Maniac, Flashdance), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Apr 18 Kim Stone, bassist (Spyro Gyra-Morning Dance)
- Apr 21 Ebiet G. Ade, Indonesian singer
- Apr 24 Captain Sensible [Ray Burns], English rock bassist (Women & Captains 1st), born in Balham, London
- Apr 24 Jack Blades, American rock bassist (Damn Yankees-Coming of Age, Night Ranger), born in Palm Desert, California
- Apr 25 Rob Crosby, Sumter SC, country singer (She's a Natural)
- Apr 29 Deborah Iyall, rocker (Romeo Void)
- May 1 Ray Parker Jr, rock guitarist/vocalist (Ghostbusters), born in Detroit, Michigan
- May 3 Gary Young, American drummer (Pavement), born in Mamaroneck, New York
- May 4 Julie Budd, American singer (Child of Plenty), born in Brooklyn, New York
- May 4 Pia Zadora, American actress and singer, born in Hoboken, New Jersey
- May 5 Angelo Kimball, rock guitarist (Face To Face), born in Boston, Massachusetts
- May 11 Edgar Riley Jr, rocker (Axe K)
- May 11 Judith Weir, English composer, Master of the Queen's Music, born in Cambridge
- May 13 Johnny Logan, Irish singer and songwriter
- May 18 Wreckless Eric, rocker (Waxworks, Be Stiff)
- May 18 Reinhold Heil, German composer
- May 19 Phil Rudd, Australian rock drummer (AC/DC-Rock 'n Roll Damnation), born in Melbourne, Victoria
- May 20 James Henderson, country singer (Black Oak Arkansas)
- May 20 Guy Hoffman, American musician (Violent Femmes)
- May 21 Marc Ribot, American guitarist (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, John Zorn), born in Newark, New Jersey
- May 22 Jerry Dammers, keyboardist (Specials-Special)
- May 28 Youri Egorov, Soviet classical pianist (d. 1988)
- May 31 Vicki Sue Robinson, American singer (d. 2000)
- Jun 2 Michael Steele, rocker (Bangles-Eternal Flame, Walk Like an Egyptian)
- Jun 3 Daniel "Dan" Hill, Canadian pop singer and songwriter (Sometimes When We Touch, Can't We Try), born in Toronto, Ontario
- Jun 5 Peter Erskine, jazz drummer (Weather Report)
- Jun 5 Michael "Nicko" McBrain, English heavy metal drummer (Iron Maiden-Powerslave), born in London, England
- Jun 9 Pete Byrne Bath, English rocker (Naked Eyes), born in Bath, Somerset
- Jun 10 Richard "Rich" Hall, American comedian, writer, and musician (Saturday Night Live, Fridays, Not Necessarily the News), born in Alexandria, Virginia
- Jun 11 Johnny Neel, American musician, singer and songwriter (Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule, Dickey Betts), born in Wilmington, Delaware
- Jun 13 Bo [Robert] Donaldson, American rock vocalist (Billy Don't Be a Hero), born in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Jun 13 Jorge Santana, Mexican rock guitarist (Malo), born in Autlán de Navarro
- Jun 13 Rita Cadillac, Brazilian dancer
- Jun 15 Terri Gibbs, blind singer (Somebody's Knockin'), born in Augusta, Georgia
- Jun 16 Gary Roberts, rocker (Boomtown Rats)
- Jun 16 Doane Perry, American musician, composer, and author (Jethro Tull), born in Mt. Kisco, Westchester County, New York
- Jun 18 William Beard, rock drummer (Face To Face)
- Jun 20 Michael Anthony, rock bassist/singer (Van Halen-Pretty Woman)
- Jun 22 Bobby Valentino, rocker (Fabulous Poodles)
- Jun 25 David Paich, American rock keyboardist (Toto-Africa), born in Los Angeles, California
- Jun 28 Ava Barber, country singer (Lawrence Welk Show), born in Knoxville, Tennessee
- Jun 30 Bryn B Burrows, rock drummer (Fabulous Poodles)
- Jul 5 Jimmy Crespo, American guitarist (Aerosmith)
- Jul 9 Debbie Sledge, American vocalist (Sister Sledge-We are Family), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jul 10 Gene Holder, American musician (the dBs)
- Jul 10 Neil Tennant, English singer and songwriter (Pet Shop Boy-West End Girl), born in North Shields, Northumberland, England
- Jul 13 Louise Mandrell, country singer (Mandrell Sisters), born in Corpus Christi, Texas
- Jul 13 Sezen Aksu, Turkish singer
- Jul 14 Jos Zoomer, Amsterdam Neth, rock drummer (Vandenberg)
- Jul 18 Ricky Skaggs, Cordell Ky, country singer (Heartbroke, Toy Hearts)
- Jul 18 Tobias Picker, American composer (Emmeline), born in New York City
- Jul 20 Jay Jay French [John French Segall], American rock guitarist (Twisted Sister), born in NYC, New York
- Jul 22 Al Di Meola, American jazz guitarist, born in Jersey City, New Jersey
- Jul 23 Marisa DeFranco, Canadian musician (The DeFranco Family), born in Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
- Jul 25 Ken Greer [Kenneth William Greer], Canadian rock guitarist (Red Rider), born in Toronto, Ontario
- Jul 28 Ken Margolis, rocker (Mink DeVille)
- Jul 28 Steve Morse, American rocker ( Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple), born in Hamilton, Ohio
- Aug 6 Elma Miller, Canadian composer, born in Toronto
- Aug 11 David Ian "Joe" Jackson, English singer, pianist, composer (Steppin' Out), born in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England
- Aug 11 Juan Maria Solare, Argentine composer
- Aug 12 Pat Metheny, jazz guitarist (As Wichita Falls)
- Aug 17 Eric Johnson, American guitarist
- Aug 21 Steve Smith, rock drummer (Journey), born in Los Angeles, California
- Aug 25 Elvis Costello [Declan Patrick McManus], English rock vocalist (Allison), born in Paddington, London
- Aug 25 Marty Jourard, American keyboardist and vocalist (Motels-Only the Lonely), born in Atlanta, Georgia
- Aug 26 Michael Chetwood, rocker
- Aug 26 Wally Murphy, American guitarist
- Aug 29 Chet Catallo, American jazz guitarist (Spyro Gyra-Morning Dance), born in Rochester, New York
- Aug 29 Julio Fernandez, jazz guitarist (Spyro Gyra-Morning Dance), born in Havana, Cuba
- Sep 6 Banner Thomas, American rocker (Molly Hatchet), born in Orange Park, Florida (d. 2017)
- Sep 6 Patrick O'Hearn, American rock bassist (Missing Persons), born in Los Angeles, California
- Sep 7 Benmont Tench, American rock keyboardist (Heartbreakers), born in Gainesville, Florida
- Sep 13 Ted Mueller, American rock drummer (Axe) (d. 2012)
- Sep 14 Barry Cowsill, American rock bassist (The Cowsills - We Can Fly), born in Newport, Rhode Island (d. 2005)
- Sep 16 Colin Newman, English musician (Wire)
- Sep 16 Frank Reed, American singer (Chi-Lites), (d. 2014)
- Sep 17 Joël-François Durand, French composer
- Sep 21 Philthy Animal [Phil Taylor], English rock drummer (Motorhead), born in Hasland, Chesterfield (d. 2015)
- Sep 26 Craig Chaquico, rock guitarist (Jefferson Starship)
- Sep 26 César Rosas, Mexican singer, songwriter and guitarist (Los Super Seven), born in Hermosillo, Mexico
- Sep 28 George Lynch, rock guitarist (Lynch Mob-Wicked Sensations)
- Sep 30 Patrice Rushen, rock vocalist, born in Los Angeles, California
- Oct 2 Greg Jennings, country singer (Restless Heart-Wheels), born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Oct 3 Stevie Ray Vaughan, American guitarist (Sky is Crying, Texas Flood), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 1990)
Stevie Ray Vaughan
David Lee Roth
Oct 10 David Lee Roth, American rock singer (Van Halen), born in Bloomington Indiana
David Lee Roth
- Oct 10 Mohamed Mounir, Egyptian singer and actor
- Oct 20 Steve Orich, orchestrator
- Oct 24 Perry Lee "Tiny" Tavares, rocker
- Oct 24 Jozef Ráž, Slovak musician
- Oct 29 Anita Meijer, Dutch singer (Just a Disillusion)
- Oct 30 T Graham Brown, Arabi Ga, country singer (Come as you Were)
- Nov 3 Adam Ant, [Stuart Goddard], English punk rocker (If I Strip For You), born in London, England
- Nov 4 Chris Difford, British guitarist/vocalist (Squeeze), born in Greenwich, London
- Nov 8 Rickie Lee Jones, singer (Chuck E's in Love), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Nov 8 Jeanette McGruder, American musician (P Funk)
- Nov 9 Dennis Stratton, rock guitarist (Iron Maiden), born in London, England
- Nov 9 Sue Upton, English actress and dancer
- Nov 10 Mario Cipollina, California, rock bassist (Huey Lewis & The News)
- Nov 14 Yanni, new age musician (Live at the Acropolis, Sand Dance)
- Nov 15 Ab Bryant, rock bassist/vocalist (Chilliwack)
- Nov 18 John Parr, British pop singer
- Nov 19 Annette Guest, US singer (First Choice)
- Nov 19 Tom Scheckel, rock drummer (Buckinghams), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Nov 20 Frank Marino, rock guitarist (Mahogany Rush), born in Montreal, Quebec
- Nov 23 Bruce Hornsby, Williamsburg Va, rock vocalist
- Nov 30 George McArdle, rock bassist (Little River Band Melbourne
- Nov 30 June Pointer, singer (Pointer Sisters-I'm So excited)
- Dec 2 Danielle Alexander, country music pianist, born in Fort Worth, Texas
- Dec 3 Paul Gregg, country singer (Restless Heart-Wheels)
- Dec 6 Chris Stamey, American musician, born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Dec 7 Mike Nolan, Irish singer (Bucks Fizz-My Camera Never Lies), born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland
- Dec 9 Kip Hanrahan, American jazz producer (American Clavé), born in the Bronx, New York
- Dec 10 Jack Hues, English musician
- Dec 11 Jermaine Jackson, singer (Jackson 5-ABC), born in Gary, Indiana
- Dec 13 John Anderson, American country singer and actor (I've Got a Feelin', Money in the Bank), born in Apopka, Florida
- Dec 13 Steve Forbert, American musician (Romeo's Tune), born in Meridian, Mississippi
- Dec 14 Ib Anderson, Copenhagen, ballet dancer
- Dec 25 Annie Lennox, Aberdeen Scotld, vocalist (Eurythmics-Sweet Dreams, Why)
- Dec 25 Robin Campbell, British reggae vocalist/guitarist (UB40-Red Red Wine)
- Dec 25 Steve Wariner, Noblesville Indiana, country singer (Small Town Girl)
- Dec 26 Peter Woods, rocker (Romeo Void-Girl in Trouble)
- Dec 28 Rosie Vela, American model and singer-songwriter (Zazu, Fool's Paradise), born in Galveston, Texas
- Dec 29 Roger Voudouris, rock vocalist, born in Sacramento, California