On This Day in Music: January 31

On January 31 in music history, 48 artists were born, 17 died and 9 other milestones happened, among them Alan Lomax (1915), Johnny Rotten (1956) and Justin Timberlake (1981).

Pick a date, get a soundtrack

The soundtrack for January 31

Choose a date

Open in Spotify

Tomorrow's day in music →

Highlights

January 31

View all

Standout moments for this date.

Alan Lomax

Alan Lomax, American musicologist (d. 2002) was born

Johnny Rotten

Johnny Rotten, [John Lydon], rocker (Sex Pistols-God Save the Queen) was born

Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake, Memphis, Tennessee, singer-songwriter (Sexyback, My Love) was born

Elton John

4th American Music Award: Olivia Newton-John & Elton John win

Loading events...

Born on January 31

Aart Mol

Aart Mol, Dutch bassist (Catapult) was born

Adrian Vandenberg

Adrian Vandenberg, Amsterdam Neth, rock guitarist (Whitesnake) was born

Al Jaworsky

Al Jaworsky, [Alan Doughty], pop bassist (Jesus Jones) was born

Alan Lomax

Alan Lomax, American musicologist (d. 2002) was born

Ambrosius Metzger

Ambrosius Metzger, composer was born

Benjamin Frankel

Benjamin Frankel, composer was born

Blaz Arnic

Blaz Arnic, composer was born

Bobby Hackett

Bobby Hackett, Providence RI, trumpeteer/orchestra leader (Air Time '57) was born

Bojidar Dimov

Bojidar Dimov, composer was born

Carl Wilhelm Henning

Carl Wilhelm Henning, composer was born

Charley Musselwhite

Charley Musselwhite, blues musician (Stand Back, Louisiana Fog) was born

Chuck Willis

Chuck Willis, rock vocalist (C C Rider) was born

Claude Gauthier

Claude Gauthier, Canadian singer and songwriter was born

Dave Benton

Dave Benton, Aruban-born singer was born

Elena Paparizou

Elena Paparizou, Greek singer was born

Fat Mike

Fat Mike, American musician was born

Francois Devienne

Francois Devienne, composer was born

Franz Peter Schubert

Franz Peter Schubert, Lichtenthal Austria, composer (Unfinished Symphony) was born

Gerald Chanberlain

Gerald Chanberlain, rocker was born

Gioseffo Zarlino

Gioseffo Zarlino, composer was born

Giulio Cesare Monteverdi

Giulio Cesare Monteverdi, composer was born

Harry Casey

Harry Casey, [KC], rock vocalist (KC & Sunshine Band-Give It) was born

Hector Iglesias Villoud

Hector Iglesias Villoud, composer was born

Henryk Szulc

Henryk Szulc, composer was born

Isham Jones

Isham Jones, American musician (d. 1956) was born

Jeff Hanneman

Jeff Hanneman, American musician (Slayer), (d. 2013) was born

Jim Nollman

Jim Nollman, composer was born

Johnny Rotten

Johnny Rotten, [John Lydon], rocker (Sex Pistols-God Save the Queen) was born

Jose Maceda

Jose Maceda, composer was born

Julien-Amable Mathieu

Julien-Amable Mathieu, composer was born

Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake, Memphis, Tennessee, singer-songwriter (Sexyback, My Love) was born

Karl Gottlieb Reissiger

Karl Gottlieb Reissiger, composer was born

Lloyd Cole

Lloyd Cole, rocker was born

Mario Lanza

Mario Lanza, Phila, actor/singer (Great Caruso, Toast of New Orleans) was born

Marvin Junior

Marvin Junior, singer (Dells-Oh What a Night) was born

Max Drischner

Max Drischner, composer was born

Minnie Driver

Minnie Driver, London, United Kingdom, British actress and singer-songwriter (Good Will Hunting, The Riches) was born

Nicolas Saboly

Nicolas Saboly, composer was born

Noah Creshevsky

Noah Creshevsky, composer was born

Phil Manzanera

Phil Manzanera, rock guitarist (Roxy Music-Let's Stick Together) was born

Philip Glass

Philip Glass, Baltimore Md, minimal composer (Einstein on the Beach) was born

Rick Hall

Rick Hall, country/R&B singer was born

Ron Weatherburn

Ron Weatherburn, jazz pianist was born

Ryan Kienle

Ryan Kienle, American musician was born

Shingo Katori

Shingo Katori, Japanese actor and singer (SMAP) was born

Sophie Muller

Sophie Muller, Music video director was born

Terry Kath

Terry Kath, rocker (Chicago-If You Leave Me Now) was born

Tom Schuman

Tom Schuman, pianist (Spyro Gyra-Morning Dance) was born

Died on January 31

Abraham J. Twerski

Abraham J. Twerski died

Alexander Mikhaylovich Dzegelyonok

Alexander Mikhaylovich Dzegelyonok, composer, dies at 77

Alma María Vaesken Ruiz

Alma María Vaesken Ruiz died

Billy Bass Nelson

Billy Bass Nelson died

Carleton Carpenter

Carleton Carpenter died

Charlie Thomas

Charlie Thomas died

Eve Lister

Eve Lister, actress/singer (No Limit, Hyde Park), dies at 84

Francesco Zannetti

Francesco Zannetti, composer, dies at 50

Heinrich Reinhardt

Heinrich Reinhardt, composer, dies at 56

Howard Barlow

Howard Barlow, conductor (Voice of Firestone), dies at 79

Istvan Szelenyi

Istvan Szelenyi, composer, dies at 67

Jimmy Johnson

Jimmy Johnson died

Kadriye Nurmambet

Kadriye Nurmambet died

Kirka Babitzin

Kirka Babitzin, Finnish singer (b. 1950)

Slim Harpo

Slim Harpo, [James Moore], rocker, dies at 28

Susan Alcorn

Susan Alcorn died

Yasushi Akutagawa

Yasushi Akutagawa, composer, dies at 63

Releases & milestones on January 31

Elton John

4th American Music Award: Olivia Newton-John & Elton John win

Grateful Dead

Grateful Dead members busted on LSD charges

Jean-Baptiste Lully

Jean-Baptiste Lully's opera "Bellerophon," premieres in Paris

Kesha

Kesha released the album 'High Road'

Louis Tomlinson

Louis Tomlinson released the album 'Walls'

Meghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor released the album 'Treat Myself'

Olivia Newton-John

3rd American Music Award: Olivia Newton-John & John Denver win

The Weeknd

The Weeknd released the album 'Hurry Up Tomorrow'

Zac Brown Band

52nd Grammy Awards: Use Somebody, Zac Brown Band wins

More standout moments in January →