- Oct 7 Billy Daniels, African-American jazz singer ("That Old Black Magic") and television pioneer (The Billy Daniels Show), dies of cancer at 73
- Oct 8 Ernst Hermann Meyer, German composer, dies at 82
- Oct 9 Cliff Gallup, American guitarist (Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps), dies of a heart attack at 58
- Oct 15 Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji [Leon Dudley Sorabji], Parsi-British pianist and composer (Opus clavicembalisticum), dies of heart failure at 96
- Oct 19 Edward "Son" House, American delta blues singer-songwriter and guitarist ("Walking Blues"; "Preachin' The Blues"), dies of larynx cancer at 86
- Oct 25 Johnnie Richardson, American R&B musician (Johnnie & Joe), dies at 53
- Oct 26 Herman Strategier, Dutch organist, conductor, and composer (Rembrandt Cantata; Shadow Out of Time), dies at 76
Country Singers
Jazz Singers
Opera Singers
Pop Singers
Rappers
Rock Singers