Events in Music
Music Premiere
Jan 25 Richard Strauss' "Metamorphosis" premieres in Zurich
Birthdays in Music
- Jan 2 Richard Cole, American tour manager (Led Zeppelin)
John Paul Jones
Jan 3 John Paul Jones [Baldwin], English rock bassist and songwriter (Led Zeppelin - "Stairway to Heaven"), born in London
Syd Barrett
Jan 6 Syd Barrett, British guitarist and singer-songwriter (Pink Floyd, 1964-68 - "See Emily Play"; solo -"The Madcap Laughs"), born in Cambridge, England (d. 2006)
- Jan 7 Jann S. Wenner, American publisher (Rolling Stone), born in NYC, New York
- Jan 7 Andy Brown, British rock drummer (The Fortunes, 1963-77 - "You've Got Your Troubles"; "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again"), born in Birmingham, England
- Jan 7 John Tropea, American session and smooth jazz guitarist, born in New York City
- Jan 8 Robby Krieger, American guitarist (The Doors - "Light My Fire"; "Hello, I Love You"), born in Los Angeles, California
- Jan 10 Aynsley Dunbar, English drummer (Journey, Jefferson Starship), born in Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Jan 10 Bob Lang, English bassist (Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders), born in Manchester, United Kingdom
- Jan 11 Naomi Judd [Diana Ellen], American country singer (Judds - "Why Not Me"), born in Ashland, Kentucky
- Jan 11 Tony Kaye [Anthony John Selvidge], British progressive rock piano and organ player (Yes, 1968-71; 1983-94; 2018–19), born in Leicester, England
- Jan 12 Cynthia Robinson, American musician (Sly & Family Stone - "Everyday People"), born in Sacramento, California (d. 2015)
- Jan 12 George Duke, American Grammy Award-winning jazz and funk keyboard player, and composer, born in San Rafael, California (d. 2013)
- Jan 13 Eero Koivistoinen, Finnish musician
- Jan 16 Katia Ricclarelli, Italian soprano and actress (Falstaff, Otello, Turandot), born in Rovigo, Italy
- Jan 17 Frank Bey [Bass], American blues singer-songwriter (All My Dues Are Paid), born in Millen, Georgia (d. 2020)
Dolly Parton
Jan 19 Dolly Parton, American country singer-songwriter ("Jolene"; ""I Will Always Love You", "9 to 5"), actress, and literacy advocate, born in Sevierville, Tennessee
- Jan 19 John David [Williams], Welsh bassist, songwriter, and producer (Dave Edmunds; Shakin' Stevens), born in Cardiff, South Wales
Malcolm McLaren
Jan 22 Malcolm McLaren, British band manager (the Sex Pistols), born in London (d. 2010)
- Jan 28 Rick Allen, American rock bass player and keyboardist (The Box Tops - "Cry Like A Baby"), born in Little Rock, Arkansas
- Jan 28 Gailene Stock, Australian ballerina, teacher, and dance school director, born in Ballarat, Victoria (d. 2014)
- Jan 29 Bettye LaVette [Betty Jo Haskins], American soul singer (I've Got My Own Hell to Raise), born in Muskegon, Michigan
- Jan 31 Terry Kath, American rock guitarist & songwriter (Chicago), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1976)
Deaths in Music
- Jan 5 (Catherine) "Kitty" Cheatham, American folk singer and children's music singer-songwriter, dies at 81
- Jan 7 Adamo Didur, Polish operatic bass singer (New York Metropolitan Opera, 1908-32), dies at 71
- Jan 17 Gottfried Rudinger, German composer, dies at 59
- Jan 18 Feliks Nowowiejski, Polish organist and composer, dies at 68
- Jan 29 Sidney Jones, British conductor and composer (The Geisha, A Gaiety Girl), dies at 84