- 1676 Christopher Gibbons, English composer, dies at 61
- 1819 Lambert-Francois Godecharle, composer, dies at 66
- 1870 Michael William Balfe, composer (Bohemian Girl), dies at 62
- 1904 Henry Hiles, English composer, dies at 77
- 1913 Leander Schlegel, composer, dies at 69
- 1927 Mikhail Mikhaylovich Ivanov, composer, dies at 78
- 1931 Emánuel Moór, Hungarian composer, pianist, and inventor of musical instruments, dies at 68
- 1944 Gabriel Groulez, French composer, dies at 65
- 1955 Eino Roiha, Finnish composer, dies at 51
- 1977 Cassie Gaines, American rock musician (Lynyrd Skynyrd), dies in a plane crash at 28
- 1977 Ronnie Van Zant, American rock musician (Lynyrd Skynyrd), dies in a plane crash at 29
- 1977 Steve Gaines, American rock vocalist and guitarist (Lynyrd Skynyrd), dies in a plane crash at 28
- 1983 Merle Travis, American country singer, dies at 75
- 1994 Charles Robert Owen Medley, dancer/Choreographer, dies at 88
- 1995 Raymond Rasberry, pianist/singer, dies at 65
- 1997 Henry Vestine, American guitarist (Canned Heat), dies of heart and respiratory failure at 52
- 2005 Shirley Horn, American singer (b. 1934)
- 2014 Pavle Merku, Italian-Slovene composer and ethnomusicologist, dies at 87
- 2015 Cory Wells [Emil Lewandowski], American rock vocalist (3 Dog Night-Joy to the World), dies at 74
- 2015 Don Rendell, English jazz musician and arranger, dies at 89
October in History
Prince of Wales Gallops Out of Horseracing After Scandal
Once regarded as the ‘first gentleman of Europe’, the lifestyle of a former Prince of Wales caused revulsion, starting with a horseracing scandal on this day.
October 20, 1791The Tragedy of Aberfan
One hundred and sixteen young children died on this day when an avalanche of coal tip waste and debris thundered down a hillside and engulfed their school.
October 21, 1966Jumping Jacques Makes First Parachute Descent
Daredevil André-Jacques Garnerin took to the sky in a hydrogen balloon on this day and after cutting himself adrift performed the first ‘parachute’ descent.
October 22, 1797Test of Time for the Date of Creation
The assertion by a 17th Century bishop that the universe was created on this day in the year 4004 BC was put to the test in a famous trial in the United States.
October 23, 4004 BC
