- Oct 2 Lord Davies, British engineer and chairman (Welsh National Opera)
- Oct 3 Alan O'Day, American singer and songwriter (Undercover Angel, over 100 songs for the Muppet Babies), born in Hollywood, California (d. 2013)
- Oct 7 Dino Valenti [Chester "Chet" Powers], American rock guitarist/vocalist (Quicksilver Messenger Service), born in Danbury, Connecticut (d. 1994)
- Oct 8 Fred Cash, American soul singer (Impressions -"People Get Ready"), born in Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Oct 9 Hans Ulrich Humpert, German composer, born in Paderborn, Germany (d. 2010)
John Lennon
Oct 9 John Lennon, English musician and member of The Beatles (Imagine), born in Liverpool, England (d. 1980)
John Lennon
- Oct 10 Mouse [Stanley Miller] American artist, notable for psychedelic rock concert poster designs and album art (Grateful Dead; Journey), born in Fresno, California
- Oct 13 Chris Farlowe [John Henry Deighton], English singer (Out of Times), born in London
- Oct 13 Pharoah Sanders, American jazz saxophonist, born in Little Rock, Arkansas
Cliff Richard
Oct 14 Cliff Richard [Harry Webb], English rock vocalist ("Move It"; "Living Doll"; "We Don't Talk Anymore"), born in Lucknow, British India
Cliff Richard
- Oct 18 Cynthia Weil, American songwriter ("We Got Get Out Of This Place"; "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"), born in NYC, New York
- Oct 20 Kathy Kirby, British singer
- Oct 21 Manfred Mann [Michael Lubowitz], British, rocker ("Mighty Quinn"; "Blinded By The Light"), born in Johannesburg, Transvaal, Union of South Africa
- Oct 23 Ellie Greenwich, American singer-songwriter (Da Doo Ron Ron, Leader of the Pack), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2009)
- Oct 23 Freddie Marsden, English rock drummer (Gerry and the Pacemakers), born in Liverpool, England (d. 2006)
- Oct 27 Anthea Joseph, British music promoter, born in London (d. 1997)
- Oct 29 Frida Boccara, French singer, born in Casablanca, French Morocco (d. 1996)
About October 1940
How Old? 80 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: Yes