October 

October 1:

Born:    Walter Matthau NYC, actor (Odd Couple, Bad News Bears) (1920) 

            Tom Bosley Chicago, actor (Howard-Happy Days)  (1927)

            George Peppard Detroit Mich, actor (1928)

            Richard Harris, actor (1933)

            Julie Andrews, singer/actress (1935)

             Stella Stevens, Yazoo City Miss, actress (1936)

             Scott McKenzie, singer (San Francisco (Wear Flowers in Your Hair) (1944)

             Donny Hathaway, singer, songwriter (1945)

Events:  Roger Maris sets record of 61 HRs, last off of Tracy Stallard (1961)

          From New York ... heeeeeeeeeere’s Johnny!” Ed McMahon introduced the new host of NBC’s Tonight Show for the first time. Johnny Carson entertained late-night America for nearly three decades, give or take 20 years for vacations... (1962)

           The Lucy Show premiers (1962)

          Pink Floyd arrives in the United States for their first tour. (1967)

          Tom Clancy author (Hunt for Red October and many other thrillers) dies at 66 (2013)

October 2:

Born:      Groucho Marx (1898)

              Spanky McFarland actor (Little Rascals) (1928)

              Don McLean, singer/songwriter (American Pie)  (1945)

Events:   Rod Serling's "Twilight Zone" premieres on CBS (1959)

               "Ben Casey" premieres (1961)

  The Grateful Dead are busted in their communal home at 710 Ashbury Street, San Francisco.  The bust is meaningless, because there is no warrant. (1967)

            Rock Hudson actor (MacMillian & Wife), dies at 59 of aids (1985)

            Bob Gibson, Hall of Fame pitcher for The St. Louis Cardinals, dies at 84 (2020)

October 3:

Born:     James Darren, singer/actor (Goodbye Cruel World, Gidget) (1936)

             Eddie Cochran, rocker (C'Mon Everybody) (1938)

             Chubby Checker (1941)

             Lindsey Buchingham (1947)

Events:   "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" premieres on ABC-TV. (1952)

               Dick Van Dyke Show" premieres on CBS-TV (1961)

              Mister Ed premieres (1961)

October 4:

Born:   Charlton Heston, actor (10 Commandments, Ben Hur, Planet of the Apes) (1923)

           Leroy Van Dyke, Spring Fork Mo, country singer (Walk on By) (1929)

            James Fieldler, Blood, Sweat and Tears (1947)

Events: "Ted Mack's Amateur Hour" premieres on NBC-TV. (1949)

             Baseball's first divisional playoff games, Mets beat Braves 9-5 & Orioles beat Twins 4-3 in 12 innings (1969)

             Janis Joplin died of a drug overdose. (1970)

             Leonard C Odell wrote 7,000 Burma Shave poems, dies at 83 (1991)

             Paul Revere of Paul Revere and the Raiders (songs Kicks, Hungry, Lament of the Cherokee (Indian Reservation) dies at 76 (2014

              Diahann Carroll, actress, TV series Julia, and Dynasty, dies at 84 (2019)

              Loretta Lynn, country singer, Coal Miner's Daughter, Don't Come on a Drinkin', You Ain't Woman Enough to Take My Man and many more hits, dies at 90 (2022)

October 5:

Born:    Ray Kroc Illinois, founder of McDonalds/owner (San Diego Padres) (1902) 

            Allen Ludden Mineral Point Wisc, TV host (Password) (1919)

            Donald Pleasence Worksop England, actor (Fantastic Voyage, Halloween) (1919)

            Bill Dana, Quincy Mass, comedian/actor (Jose Jimenez) (1924)

            Gail Davis, Little Rock Ark, actress (Annie Oakley) (1925)

            Peter Brown NYC, actor (Lawman) (1935)

            Carlo Mastrangelo, The Belmonts (1938)

            Steve Miller (1943)

Events:   The Beatles release "Love Me Do" in UK. (1962)

              "White Room" is release by Cream. (1968)

              Dick Butkus, legendary linebacker for the Chicago Bears dies at 80 (2023)

October 6:

Events:   LSD is declared illegal in the United States. (1966)

              Haight-Ashbury Hippies perform a Hippie funeral in San Francisco to mark the end of hippies. (1967)

              Henry Calvin actor (Sgt Garcia-Zorro), dies at 57 (1975)

              Bette Davis, legendary actress dies at 81 (1989)

              Charles Napier, actor, Rambo: First Blood 2; The Blues Brothers, dies at 75 (2011)

               Kevin Corcoran, actor, producer, (known in Disney movies such as Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog and in the Mickey Mouse Club series Spin and Marty, dies at 66 (2015)

               Billy Joe Royal, singer, with hits "Down in the Boondocks," "Cherry Hill Park" and others dies at 73. (2015)

                Larry Junstrom, a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and bassist for .38 Special, dies at  70 (2019) 

                 Johnny Nash, singer, known for song "I Can See Clearly Now", dies at 80 (2020)

                 Eddie Van Halen, rock muscian, dies at 65 (2020)

                 Jody Miller, country singer, best known for her response song Queen of the House to Roger Miller's King of the Road dies at 80 (2022)

October 7:

Born:     Al Martino (1927)

             Dino Valenti [songwriter who wrote "Get Together" recorded by the Youngbloods and others] (1940)

             Tony Sylvester, Main Ingredient (1941)

             Gary Puckett of Gary Puckett & The Union Gap (1942)

Events:   Dick Clark's first network broadcast of "American Bandstand" is on ABC-TV. (1957)

                 "Route 66" premieres (1960)

                 Beatles turn down $1 million NY concert offer by Sid Berstein (1967)

               Leo Durocher baseball coach/manager (Dodgers, Giants), dies at 86 (1991)

               Jimmy Beaumont, singer, The Skyliners, co-wrote song "Since I Don't Have You" dies at 76 (2017)

               Al Laboe,  an American disc jockey, songwriter, record producer, and radio station owner, generally credited with coining the term "Oldies But Goodies". dies at 97 (2022)

October 8:

Born:     Doc Green, The Drifters (1934)

             Rona Barrett, NYC, gossip columnist (Tomorrow Show) (1936)

             Reverend Jesse Jackson (1941)

             Robert "Kool" Bell rocker (Kool & the Gang-Joanna) (1950)

Events:  Roger Williams was a easy-listening pianist whose "Autumn Leaves" hit # 1 in the midst of the original rock and roll explosion dies at age 87 (2011) 

             Edward Charles "Whitey"  Ford, hall of fame pitcher pitcher, dies at 91 (2020)

             Burt Young, actor, best known as Pauly in the Rocky movies dies at 83 (2023)

   October 9:

Born:     Hank Patterson Alabama, actor (Gunsmoke , Fred Ziffel-Green Acres) (1888)

             Pat Burke, The Foundations (1937)

             John Lennon (1940)

             Jackson Browne (1949)

Events:   Diana Ross & The Supremes release "Someday We'll Be Together" (1969)

              Elvis & Priscilla Presley divorce after 6 years (1973)

              Judge Irving Kaufman rules that John Lennon's pot conviction in Britain is not cause for deportation (1976)

              Bill Brown was a New York legend and one of the US' first "oldies" DJs, holding that position at WCBS for over three decades dies at 69 (2011)

October 10:

Born:     Alan Cartwright, Procol Harum (1945)

             Keith Reid, Procol Harum (1946)

Events: Treaty banning atmospheric nuclear tests signed by US, UK, USSR (1963)

             Eddie Cantor comedian (Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater), dies at 72 (1964)

             Frank Zappa's first solo LP "Hot Rats," is released. (1969)

             Vice President Spiro T Agnew pleads no contest to tax evasion & resigns (1973)

             Orson Welles actor (War of the Worlds (radio broadcast) Citizen Kane), dies at 70 (1985)

             Yul Brynner actor (The 10 Commandments; King & I; The Magnificient 7), dies of cancer at 70 (1985)

              Solomon Burke, singer, song writer, dies at age 70 (2010)

       October 11:

Born:     Gary Mallaber, Steve Miller Band (1946)

              Daryl Hall, Hall and Oates (1948)

              Greg Douglas, Steve Miller Band (1949)

Events:    Douglas Edwards, WW II correspondant/news anchor, dies of cancer at 73 (1990)

               Redd Foxx comedian,  (Sanford & Son) dies at 68 from a heart attack (1991)

               Angela Lansbury, actress, best know for TV series Murder She Wrote and many movies and broadway productions dies at 96 (2022)

               Rudolph Isley, former member of The Isley Brothers, dies at 84 (2023)

October 12:

Born:     Sam Moore, Sam and Dave (Hold On, I'm Comin') (1935)

Events:   Nikita Krushchev pounds his shoe on a table at the United Nations. (1960)

              Gene Vincent rocker, dies at 36 (1971)

              Nixon nominates Gerald Ford to replace Spiro Agnew as VP (1973)

              Johnny Olsen TV announcer (Price is Right), dies at 75 (1985)

              John Denver dies in a plane crash he was piloting. (1997)

October 13:

Born:    Nipsey Russell Atlanta Ga, comedian (Car 54, Barefoot in the Park) (1920)

             Lenny Bruce (1925)

             Paul Simon (1942)

             Robert Lamm, Chicago (1944)

             Demond Wilson Valdosta Ga, actor (Sanford & Son) (1946)

             Sammy Hagar (1947)

             Craig McGregor, Foghat (1949)

Events:   "Beatlemania" is coined after the Beatles appear at the Palladium (1963)

               Ed Sullivan dies.  (1974)

              Clarence Muse actor (Sam-Casablanca), dies at 90 (1979)

              Jay Ward, animator (Rocky & His Friends), dies at 69 of cancer (1989)

              General Norman Johnson, lead singer (Chairmen of the Board) dies at 69 (2010)

October 14:

Born:     Roger Moore London England, actor (Alaskans, Maverick, Saint and James Bond Movies) (1927)

             Cliff Richard [Harry Rogers Webb] (1940)

             Justin Hayward, The Moody Blues (1946)

Events: Errol Flynn actor, dies (1959)

             Alvin and the Chipmunks have their first TV show. (1961)

            Martin Luther King Jr wins Nobel Peace Prize (1964)

            Race riots in Springfield, Mass (1969)

            Bing Crosby, singer/actor dies at 74. (1977)

            Paul Fix actor (Micah-Rifleman), dies at 82 of kidney failure (1983)

            Leonard Bernstein composer (West Side Story), dies at 72 (1990)

            Piper Laurie, actress, best known in movies Carrie and The Hustler dies at 91 (2023)

October 15:

Born:     Barry McGuire, singer (Eve of Destruction) (1935)

             Linda Lavin Portland Maine, actress (Alice, Barney Miller) (1937)

             Penny Marshall Bronx NY, actress,director (Odd Couple, Laverne & Shirley) (1942)

             Richard Carpenter, singer/songwriter (The Carpenters) (1945)

             Tito Jackson (Jackson 5) (1953)

Events:   Billy Graham begins his ministry (1949)

               "I Love Lucy"debuts on CBS TV (1951)

               "Untouchables" premieres (1959)

              Cole Porter, composer, dies (1964)

              LBJ signs a bill creating Dept of Transportation (1966)

              Vietnam Moratorium Day; millions nationwide protest the war (1969)

              Frank DeKova, actor (Chief Wild Eagle-F Troop) (1981)

              Pat O'Brien, actor, dies of heart attack at 83 (1983)  

              Suzanne Sommers, actress, best known in TV's Three is Company, Step by Step  and as the blonde in the T-Bird in the film American Grafitti dies at 76 (2023)        

October 16:

Born:     Bert Kaempfert (1923)

             CF Turner, Bachman-Turner-Overdrive (1943)

             Suzanne Somers San Bruno Calif, actress (3's Company, Step by Step) (1946)

             Bob "Ace" Weir, The Grateful Dead (1947)

Events:   Byron R White becomes a Supreme Court Justice (1962)

              Cuban missile crisis began as JFK becomes aware of missiles in Cuba (1962)

              Leonard Chess [Chess Records founder] dies from a heart attack. (1969)

              100-1 shot NY Mets beat Orioles 5-3 & win 66th World Series in 5 (1969)

              Cornel Wilde, actor, dies (1989)

              Barbara Billingsley, actress (Leave it to Beaver) dies at age 94 (2010)

              Betty Lynn, the film and television actress best known for playing Barney Fife’s sweetheart Thelma Lou on "The Andy Griffith Show dies at 95 (2021)

                                                        October 17: 

Born:     Tom Poston Columbus Ohio, actor (Steve Allen Show, Newhart) (1921)

             Beverly Garland Santa Cruz Calif, actress (My Three Sons) (1926)

             Robert "Evel" Knievel motorcycle daredevil (1938)

             Jimmy Seals, Seals and Croft (1942)

             Margot Kidder, actress (Lois Lane - Superman movies, Amityville Horror) (1948)

Events:  The musical "Hair" is first performed (1967)

             Tennessee Ernie Ford, country singer (16 Tons), dies at 72 (1991)

             Joey Bishop, comedian, original Rat Pack member) dies at 89 (2007)

             Levi Stubbs, lead singer, The Four Tops, (Reach Out, I'll Be There, Baby I Need Your Loving and so many more) dies at 72 (2008)

              Bill Macy, the actor who made an indelible imprint on 1970s sitcoms with his portrayal on Norman Lear "Maude" of the loving if always up-for-an-argument Walter Findlay, dies at 97 (2019)

October 18

Born:     Chuck Berry (1926)

             Inger Stevens Stockholm Sweden, actress (Katy-Farmer's Daughter) (1934)

             Ronnie Bright, The Coasters (1938)

             Lauro Nyro, singer/songwriter (1947)

Events:  Walt Disney's "Jungle Book" is released  (1967)

              Led Zeppelin has their first gig in London with their new name. (1968)

             US Olympic Committee suspends Tommie Smith & John Carlos for giving "black power" salute as a protest during victory ceremony (1968)

             "Come Together," the first single from the last LP by The Beatles charts. (1969)

             Federal governmentt bans use of cyclamates artificial sweeteners (1969)

October 19:

Born:    Robert Reed, Highland Park Ill, actor (Mike-Brady Bunch)  (1932) 

           Jeannie C. Riley, singer (Harper Valley P.T.A.) (1945)

Events: Maurice Gosfield actor (Doberman-Phil Silvers Show), dies at 51 (1964) 

             The Yardbirds with Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck on guitars, start their United States tour. (1966)

          Gig Young kills his bride of 3 weeks & then commits suicide at 64 (1978)

          Tom Bosley, actor (best known for his character, Howard Cunningham, in Happy Days) dies at 83 (2010)

October 20:

Born:     Mickey Mantle, NY Yankee, home run slugger (1956 Triple Crown)  (1931)

             William Christopher Evanstown Ill, actor (Father Mulcahy-M*A*S*H ) (1932)

             Martin Landau, actor (Mission Impossible, Space 1999) (1934)

              Wanda Jackson, Maud Okla, country singer (1937)

             Al Greenwood, Foreigner (1951)

Events: Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns, sets NFL single-season rushing record, 1,863 yds (1963)

            All white federal jury convicts 7 in murder of 3 civil rights workers (1967)

            Jacqueline Kennedy marries Aristotle Onassis (1968)

            Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd dies in a plane crash. (1977)

            Jesus Christ Superstar opens on Broadway. (1971)

            Robert Charles Joseph Edward Sabatini "Bob" Guccione, founder and publisher of Penthouse Magazine dies at 79 (2010)

             Corey Wells, co-founder, vocalist, Three Dog Night dies at 74 (2015)

October 21:

Born:    Dizzy Gillespie, trumpeter, a creator of modern jazz  (1917) 

            Joyce Randolph Detroit Mich, actress (Trixie-Honeymooners) (1925) 

            Steve Cropper (1941)

             Manfred Mann (1941)

             Elvin Bishop (1942)

             Kathy Young, singer (Thousand Stars in the Sky) (1945)

             Lee Loughnane, Chicago (1946)

Events:  JFK & Nixon clashed in 4th & final presidential debate (NYC) (1960)

October 22:

Born:    Christopher Lloyd, Stamford Ct, actor (Taxi, Back to the Future) (1938)

            Annette Funicello (1942)

             Eddie Brigati, Rascals (1946)

Events:   JFK imposes naval blockade on Cuba, beginning missile crisis (1962)

              EMI Records turns down the signing of The High Numbers, the group that became The Who. (1964)

              "Good Vibrations" charts for The Beach Boys. (1966)

              Soupy Sales, actor, comedian, radio-tv personality,  dies at age 83 (2009)

               Jay Black, lead singer,   Jay & the Americans  , dies at 82 (2021)

October 23:

Born:   Hayden Rorke Brooklyn NY, actor (Dr Bellows-I Dream of Jeannie)  (1910)

           Frank Sutton, Clarksville Tenn, actor (Sgt Carter-Gomer Pyle USMC) (1923)

           Johnny Carson (1925)

           Ellie Greenwich, songwriter (1939)

Events:  "Quarter to Three" by Gary U.S. Bonds released. (1960)

              Tommy Edwards, singer (All in The Game) dies at 47. (1969)

October 24:

Born:     J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson (1930)

            David Nelson, NYC, actor (Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet)  (1936)

            Jerry Edmonton, Steppenwolf (1946)

Events:  Jackie Robinson dies at 53 (1972)

             Allan "Rocky" Lane, actor (voice of Mister Ed, Red Ryder), dies at 72 (1973)

             Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek creator, dies of a heart attack at 70 (1991)

             Maureen O'Hara (was known for playing fiercely passionate but sensible heroines, and often worked with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne. She was one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood) dies at 95 (2015)

                  Bobby Vee, recording artist, dies at age 73. (2016)

                 Antoine Dominique Domino Jr. (Fats), pianist, song-writer, singer dies at age  89 (2017)

              Tony Joe White (nicknamed Swamp Fox), songwriter, singer best known for his recording of 1969's "Polk Salad Annie" and his composition of the song Rainy Night in Georgia dies at 75 (2018)

              Richard Roundtree, actor, best known as John Shaft in the 1971 movie Shaft dies at 81 (2023)

October 25:

Born:      Minnie Pearl [Sarah Ophelia Colley] Tenn, (Grand Old Opry, Hee-Haw) (1912)

              Marion Ross, Albert Lea, Mn, actress (Marion-Happy Days) (1928) 

              Helen Reddy, (I Am Woman)  (1942)

Events:  First electronic wrist watch placed on sale, NYC (1960)

              American author John Steinbeck awarded Nobel Prize in literature (1962)

               Forrest Tucker actor (O'Rourke-F Troop, Dusty Trail), dies at 67 (1986)

              Bill Graham, rock concert promoter (Filmore), dies at 60 (1991)

              Richard Harris, actor, singer dies at 72. (2002)

              Phil Lesh, founding member and bass player of Grateful Dead dies at 84

October 26:

Events:  American League's Washington Senators move to become Minnesota Twins (1960)

             Bob Dylan plays Carnegie Hall. (1963)

              The Rolling Stones appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show." (1964)

              Sue Randall actress (Miss Landers-Leave it to Beaver), dies at 49 (1984)

              Marcia Wallace acress (Bob Newhart Show) dies at 70 (2013)

              Night Court actor Richard Moll dies at 80 (2023)

October 27:

Born:     Floyd Cramer, pianist (Last Date) (1933)

             Lee Greenwood country singer (God Bless the USA) (1940)

Events:  Walt Disney's first TV show, "Disneyland," premieres on ABC (1954)

            Charles Manson's defense announces they'll call The Beatles to testify on certain meanings of their songs. (1970)

            Morey Amsterdam actor/comedian (Dick Van Dyke Show) at 74 (1996)

            Rod Roddy, announcer for game shows, such as The Price is Right, dies at 66 (2003)

            Lou Reed, (singer, guitarist, songwriter) member of The Velvet Underground during late 60s and solo after known for hit Walk on the Wild Side dies at 71 (2013) 

October 28:

Born:   Dr Jonas Salk NYC, medical researcher, made polio a fear of the past (1914)  

          Charlie Daniels, country singer (1936)

          Randy Newman, songwriter, singer (1943)

          Wayne Fontana (The Mindbenders)  (The Game of Love) (1945)

Events:  Khrushchev orders withdrawal of missiles from Cuba, ending crisis (1962)

             NY Giant, YA Tittle, passes for 7 touchdowns vs Wash Redskins (49-34)(1962)

             James MacArthur, actor, Hawaii Five-0, as Officer Danny Williams, dies at 72 (2010) 

             Jerry Lee Lewis, the crazy man of rock and roll, dies at 87 (2022)

             Matthew Perry, actor, best known for TV comedy Friends dies at 54 (2023)

 October 29:

Born:      Richard Dreyfuss, Brooklyn NY, actor, (American Grafitti) (1947) 

Events:   Hair opens at The Public Theater, Greenwich Village. (1967)

October 30:

Born:     Eddie Holland, songwriter (1939)

             Grace Slick, Chicago, rock vocalist (Jefferson Airplane-White Rabbit)  (1939)

Events:  Al Molinaro, actor, played Al Delvecchio on "Happy Days" dies at 96 (2015)       

October 31:

Born:     Dale Evans, Uvalde TX, cowgirl (Roy Rogers Show) (1912)

            Michael Landon, Forest Hills NY, actor (Bonanza, Little House on the Praire, Highway to Heaven) (1937)

Events: Lee Harvey Oswald announces in Moscow he will never return to US (1959)

            Barbra Streisand's "People," album goes #1 for 5 weeks (1964)

            President Johnson orders a halt to all bombing of North Vietnam (1968)

            Race riot in Jacksonville Florida (1969)

            Sean Connery, actor, best known as the original in the James Bond movies, dies at 90 (2020)