- Oct 6 Johnny Nash, American pop-reggae-soul singer-songwriter and record producer (I Can See Clearly Now), dies at 80 [1]
- Oct 8 Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Iranian classical singer, dies at 80 [1]
- Oct 9 Pierre Kezdy, American punk-rock bass player (Naked Raygun), dies of cancer at 58
- Oct 10 Leon Biriotti, Uruguayan composer and oboist, dies at 90
- Oct 11 Jon Gibson, American flute and saxophone player (Philip Glass Ensemble, 1968-2019), and composer (The Voyage of The Beagle), dies at 80 [1]
- Oct 14 Herbert Kretzmer, South African-British lyricist of Lithuanian heritage (Les Misérables), dies at 95 [1]
- Oct 14 Rhonda Fleming [Marilyn Louis], American actress and singer nicknamed the "Queen of Technicolor" (Spellbound), dies at 97
- Oct 14 Steve York, British session and touring rock bassist (Vinegar Joe; Marianne Faithful; Dr. John), dies of cancer at 72
- Oct 15 Gordon Haskell, British pop, rock and blues musician (Fleur De Lys; King Crimson, 1970; Harry's Bar), dies of cancer at 74
- Oct 16 Johnny Bush, American country singer, dies at 85
- Oct 18 Juliusz Łuciuk, Polish composer (Hymnus de Caritate; Dzikie wino/ Virgin Ivy), dies at 93
- Oct 19 Spencer Davis [Davies], English guitarist (Spencer Davis Group - "Gimme Some Lovin'"), dies of pneumonia at 81 [1] [2]
- Oct 19 Tony Lewis, British rock singer-songwriter and bass player (The Outfield - "Your Love"), dies at 62
- Oct 21 Viola Smith, American drummer and bandleader (one of the first professional female drummers), dies at 107 [1]
- Oct 22 Derek Quinn, British guitarist (Freddie and the Dreamers - "I'm Telling You Now"), dies at 68
- Oct 23 Jerry Jeff Walker [Ronald Clyde Crosby], American country music singer and songwriter ("Mr. Bojangles"), dies of throat cancer at 78
- Oct 26 Stan Kesler, American session musician (Sun Studio), songwriter ("I Forgot to Remember to Forget"), and record producer (Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs -"Wooly Bully"), dies of bone cancer at 92
- Oct 28 Billy Joe Shaver, American country singer-songwriter ("When I Get My Wings"), dies of a stroke at 81
- Oct 28 Bobby Ball [Harper], British comic, actor, singer and television host (Cannon and Ball; The Last of Summer Wine), dies at 76
- Oct 30 Arthur Wills, British organist and composer ("God and Music"), and educator, dies at 94
- Oct 31 MF Doom [Daniel Dumile], American rapper and hip hop artist, dies at 49 [1]
- Oct 31 Rance Allen, American gospel singer and musician (Rance Allen Group - Miracle Worker), dies at 71
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