- Oct 5 Brian Keenan, American rock drummer (The Chamber Brothers), dies of a heart attack at 42
- Oct 6 Nelson Riddle, American Grammy Award-winning bandleader, conductor, and orchestrator for Capitol Records (Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Dean Martin), dies of complications from cirrhosis of the liver at 64
- Oct 7 Cemal Reşit Rey, Turkish composer, dies at 81
- Oct 11 Tex Williams, American country-western singer, dies of cancer at 68
- Oct 12 Ricky Wilson, American rock guitarist (B-52's - "Love Shack"), dies of AIDS at 32
- Oct 14 Emil Gilels, Soviet concert pianist (Brussels Competition - 1st prize, 1938), dies at 68
- Oct 15 Ted Steele, American orchestra leader (Cavalcade of Stars), dies at 68
- Oct 17 Joseph Rosenstock, American conductor (NY City Opera), dies at 90
- Oct 22 Viorica Ursuleac, Romanian operatic soprano, dies at 91
- Oct 25 (John) Morton Downey, American pop tenor, known as "The Irish Nightengale", songwriter, radio and television host, dies at 83
- Oct 26 Karel Kupka, Czech composer and choirmaster, dies at 58
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers