See also: 1940 in music, other events of 1941, 1942 in music and the list of 'years in music'.
Albums Released
Top Hits
Events
- Alan Lomax (working for the Library of Congress) discovers Muddy Waters and Son House, among others
Births
- January 9 - Joan Baez
- January 12 - Long John Baldry
- January 15 - Captain Beefheart
- January 18 - David Ruffin, The Temptations
- January 21 - Richie Havens
- January 24 - Aaron Neville, The Neville Brothers
- January 24 - Neil Diamond
- January 24 - Ray Stevens
- January 30 - Joe Terranova, Danny & The Juniors
- February 5 - Barrett Strong
- February 11 - Earl Lewis, The Channels
- February 11 - Sergio Mendes
- February 11 - Tom Rush
- February 15 - Brian Holland, songwriter
- February 17 - Eddie Holland, songwriter
- February 17 - Gene Pitney
- February 18 - Herman Santiago, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
- February 18 - Irma Thomas
- February 20 - Buffy Saint-Marie
- February 24 - Joanie Sommers
- March 12 - Paul Kantner, Jefferson Airplane
- March 15 - Mike Love, The Beach Boys
- March 17 - Clarence Clemons, E Street Band
- March 18 - Wilson Pickett
- April 3 - Jan Berry, Jan and Dean
- April 5 - David LaFlame, It's A Beautiful Day
- April 8 - J.J. Jackson
- April 28 - Peter Anders, The Tradewinds
- April 28 - Ann-Margret
- April 30 - Johnny Farina, Santo & Johnny
- May 4 - Richard Burns, The Hondells
- May 8 - John Fred, John Fred & His Playboy Band
- May 9 - Peter Birrell, Freddie & The Dreamers
- May 10 - Danny Rapp, Danny and the Juniors
- May 11 - Eric Burdon, The Animals
- May 13 - Ritchie Valens
- May 21 - Ronald Isley, The Isley Brothers
- May 24 - Bob Dylan
- June 2 - William Guest, Gladys Knight and the Pips
- June 2 - Charlie Watts, The Rolling Stones
- June 9 - John Lord, Deep Purple
- June 10 - Shirley Alston, The Shirelles
- June 15 - Harry Nilsson
- June 16 - Lamont Dozier, Holland/Dozier/Holland
- June 30 - Lawrence Henley, The Newbeats
- July 5 - Terry Cashman
- July 9 - Donald McPherson, Main Ingredient
- July 17 - Spencer Davis
- July 18 - Martha Reeves
- July 18 - Lonnie Mack
- July 19 - Vicki Carr
- July 24 - Barbara Jean Love, Friends of Distinction
- July 26 - Brenton Wood
- July 30 - Paul Anka
- August 2 - Doris Kenner, The Shirelles
- August 3 - Beverly Lee, The Shirelles
- August 4 - Timi Yuro
- August 14 - David Crosby, The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash
- August 21 - Tom Coster, Santana
- August 24 - Kenny Rogers
- August 26 - Chris Curtis, The Searchers
- August 30 - John McNally, The Searchers
- September 8 - Donald Drowty, Dante & The Evergreens
- September 9 - Otis Redding
- September 13 - David Clayton-Thomas, Blood, Sweat & Tears
- September 19 - Mama Cass Elliot, Mamas & Papas
- September 21 - Dickey Lee
- September 24 - Linda McCartney
- September 26 - Joseph Bauer, Youngbloods
- October 2 - Ron Meagher, Beau Brummels
- October 3 - Chubby Checker
- October 5 - Arlene Smith, The Chantells
- October 5 - Wally Lester, The Skyliners
- October 17 - James Seals, Seals & Crofts
- October 17 - Alan Howard, The Tremeloes
- October 21 - Manfred Mann
- October 21 - Steve Cropper, Booker T. & The M.G.s
- October 24 - Helen Reddy
- October 28 - Hank Marvin, The Shadows
- October 28 - Curtis Lee
- November 2 - Brian Poole, The Tremeloes
- November 2 - Bruce Welch, The Shadows
- November 6 - Doug Sahm, Sir Douglas Quintet
- November 9 - Tom Fogerty, Creedence Clearwater Revivial
- November 12 - Jerry Scholl, The Mello-Kings
- November 24 - Donald Duck Dunn, Booker T. & The M.G.s, The Blues Brothers
- November 29 - Denny Doherty, The Mamas & Papas
- December 2 - Tom McGuinness, Manfred Mann
- December 12 - Terry Kirkman, The Association
- December 18 - Sam Andrew, Big Brother & The Holding Company
- December 19 - Maurice White, Earth, Wind and Fire
- December 27 - Leslie Maguire, Gerry & The Pacemakers)
- December 27 - Mike Pinder, The Moody Blues
- December 29 - Ray Thomas, The Moody Blues