- Oct 1 Nick Reynolds, American folk singer, tenor guitarist, and bongo player (The Kingston Trio, 1957-67 - "Tom Dooley"; "M.T.A."), dies from respiratory disease at 75
- Oct 3 Aurel Stroe, Romanian composer, dies at 76
- Oct 6 Nadia Nerina [Nadine Judd], South African-British ballerina (Sadler's/Royal Ballet, 1949-68), dies at 80
- Oct 8 Gidget Gein [Bradley Stewart], American hard rock bassist (Marilyn Manson), dies of a suspected drug overdose at 39
- Oct 11 Neal Hefti, American jazz trumpeter, arranger (Woody Herman; Count Basie); bandleader (Kate Smith Show) and composer ("Li'l Darlin"; The Odd Couple; Batman theme), dies at 85
- Oct 12 Cliff Nobles American soul singer ("The Horse"), dies at 67
- Oct 15 Edie Adams [Edith Enke], American businesswoman, singer, actress and comedian (Murial Cigar), dies at 81
- Oct 17 Levi Stubbs [Stubbles], American baritone singer (The Four Tops - "It's the Same Old Song"; "Standing In The Shadows of Love"), dies at 72
- Oct 18 (Deliah) "Dee Dee" Warwick, American soul singer, dies of complications from diabetes at 66
- Oct 20 Pierre Sancan, French composer (Sonatine for flute and piano; La Légende de Icare), pianist, conductor, and teacher (Conservatoire de Paris, 1956-85), dies at 92
- Oct 24 Merl Saunders, American Hammond B-3 organ player and pianist (Jerry Garcia Band; Saunders/Garcia), and composer, dies at 74
- Oct 24 Moshe Cotel, American composer and pianist (b. 1943)
- Oct 28 George Sopkin, American cellist (Fine Arts Quartet, 1941-79), and teacher, dies at 94
- Oct 29 Mike Baker, American heavy metal singer and bass player (Shadow Gallery), dies of a heart attack at 45
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