Events in Music
Music Concert
Jan 2 Dmitri Shostakovich' 2nd Piano concert, premieres in NY
Historic Invention
Jan 7 Gibson Guitars receives US patent for their 'Flying V' electric guitar model; eventually used by Albert Collins, Jimi Hendrix, Marc Bolan of T-Rex, Dave Davies of the Kinks, and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top
#1 in the Charts
Jan 10 Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" reaches #1 on the UK pop charts
- Jan 23 "Body Beautiful" opens at Broadway Theater NYC for 60 performances
Birthdays in Music
- Jan 1 Grandmaster Flash [Joseph Saddler], Barbadian-American hip-hop DJ and rapper ("Message"), born in Bridgetown, Barbados
- Jan 2 Vladimir Ovchinnikov, Russian concert pianist (Tchaikovsky Prize, 1982; Leeds, 1987), born in Belebey, Bashkir ASSR (now Bashkortostan)
- Jan 11 Vicki Peterson, rock guitarist/vocalist (Bangles - "Manic Monday"), born in Los Angeles, California
- Jan 13 Sandy Stewart, American songwriter, singer, and keyboardist (Cat Dancer), born in Houston, Texas
- Jan 17 Jez Strode, British rock drummer (Kajagoogoo), born in London, United Kingdom
- Jan 24 Jools Holland, British rock keyboardist (Squeeze), and TV presenter (Later...), born in Blackheath, London
- Jan 25 Gary Brian Tibbs, British rock bassist (Adam & The Ants; Roxy Music), born in London, England
Anita Baker (65 years old)
Jan 26 American jazz and soul singer ("Giving You the Best That I Got"; "Sweet Love"), born in Toledo, Ohio
- Jan 26 B. James Lowry, American country session guitarist and producer (The Boys Band), born in Pensacola, Florida
- Jan 26 Norman Hassan, British reggae percussionist, and trombone player (UB40 - "Red Red Wine"; "I Got You Babe"), born in Birmingham, England
- Jan 27 Charles Waltz, rocker (Shooting Star)
- Jan 30 Rob van Zandvoort, Dutch rock vocalist & keyboardist (Jack of Hearts), born in Kerkrade, Netherlands
- Jan 31 Tom Schuman, American pianist (Spyro Gyra - "Morning Dance"), born in Buffalo, New York
Weddings in Music
Sammy Davis Jr.
Jan 1 American entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. marries Loray White; divorce in 1959
