- Oct 2 Frida Knight, English Communist activist and author, dies at 85
- Oct 2 Joonas Kokkonen, Finnish composer (The Last Temptations), dies at 74
- Oct 8 Watkins Shaw, British musicologist, dies at 85
- Oct 11 Johnny Costa [Costanza], American jazz pianist, celeste and accordion player, and musical director (Mister Rogers' Neighborhood), dies at 74
- Oct 12 Vernon Elliott, British composer and bassoonist, dies at 84
- Oct 16 James Wild, music teacher, dies at 68
- Oct 17 Berthold Goldschmidt, German-British opera composer (Beatrice Cenci), dies at 93
- Oct 17 Christopher Acland, English drummer (Lush), takes his own life at 30
- Oct 22 John Bauldie, British music journalist, dies at 47
- Oct 23 Alexander Kelly, British pianist and composer, dies at 67
- Oct 24 Eugene Polyakov, Russian balletmaster (Paris Opera Ballet), dies at 53
- Oct 24 Sid Pye, drummer, dies at 55
- Oct 27 Belinda Quirey, British dance historian and teacher, dies at 84
- Oct 27 John Gregory, English ballet dancer, dies at 82
- Oct 28 (Moritz) "Morey" Amsterdam, American comedian, cellist, and actor (The Dick Van Dyke Show - "Buddy"), dies at 87
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