1978-10-16
Birth
Abel Talamantez
Abel Talamantez, Texas, singer (Menudo-Cannonball) was born
On This Day in Music: October 16
Pick a date, get a soundtrack
Hear the music that defined any day.
Pick a date and press play — the day's milestones, the artists behind them, and a Spotify playlist you can hear right away, no login required.
Loading highlights...
Press play on history
The soundtrack for 2026-10-16
Hit play on the day — no login needed.
Cueing up the day's playlist...
Events and playlists update instantly.
Loading events...
1821-10-16
Birth
Albert Franz Doppler
Albert Franz Doppler, composer was born
1849-10-16
Birth
Arnold Krug
Arnold Krug, composer was born
1923-10-16
Birth
Bert Kaempfert
Bert Kaempfert, rocker was born
1960-10-16
Birth
Bob Mould
Bob Mould, American musician was born
1947-10-16
Birth
Bob Weir
Bob Weir, SF California, guitarist (Grateful Dead-Uncle Joe's Band) was born
1952-10-16
Birth
Boogie Mosson
Boogie Mosson, American musician (P Funk) was born
1943-10-16
Birth
C Fred Turner
C Fred Turner, rock bassist/vocalist (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) was born
1878-10-16
Birth
Carlos Pedrell
Carlos Pedrell, composer was born
1913-10-16
Birth
Cesar Bresgen
Cesar Bresgen, Austrian composer/organist was born
1971-10-16
Birth
Chad Gray
Chad Gray, American singer was born
1605-10-16
Birth
Charles C Dassoucy
Charles C Dassoucy, French writer/singer was born
1849-10-16
Birth
Charles Harford Lloyd
Charles Harford Lloyd, composer was born
1942-10-16
Birth
Dave Lovelady
Dave Lovelady, rocker was born
1974-10-16
Birth
Deo Grech
Deo Grech, Maltese television presenter, songwriter was born
1941-10-16
Birth
Derek David Bourgeois
Derek David Bourgeois, composer was born
1958-10-16
Birth
Eleftheria Arvanitaki
Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Greek singer was born
1937-10-16
Birth
Emile Ford
Emile Ford, rocker was born
1941-10-16
Birth
Erkki Jokinen
Erkki Jokinen, composer was born
1959-10-16
Birth
Erkki-Sven Tüür
Erkki-Sven Tüür, Estonian composer was born
1978-10-16
Birth
Ethan Luck
Ethan Luck, American musician (The O.C. Supertones, Demon Hunter, Relient K) was born
1962-10-16
Birth
Flea
Flea, [Michael Balzary], bassist (Red Hot Chili Peppers) was born
1765-10-16
Birth
Frederic Nicolas Duvernoy
Frederic Nicolas Duvernoy, composer was born
1811-10-16
Birth
Gaetano Capocci
Gaetano Capocci, composer was born
1959-10-16
Birth
Gary Kemp
Gary Kemp, London, rock guitarist (Spandau Ballet-True) was born
1936-10-16
Birth
Gerardo Gandini
Gerardo Gandini, composer was born
1897-10-16
Birth
Harrison Kerr
Harrison Kerr, composer was born
1932-10-16
Birth
Henry Jay Lewis
Henry Jay Lewis, Los Angeles California, conductor/bass (LA Philharmonic 1955-59) was born
1679-10-16
Birth
Jan Dismas Zelenka
Jan Dismas Zelenka, composer was born
1723-10-16
Birth
Johann Andreas Joseph Giulini
Johann Andreas Joseph Giulini, composer was born
1837-10-16
Birth
John Francis Barnett
John Francis Barnett, composer was born
1977-10-16
Birth
John Mayer
John Mayer, American musician was born
1903-10-16
Birth
Mario Pilati
Mario Pilati, composer was born
1938-10-16
Birth
Nico (born Christa Päffgen; singer-songwriter
Nico (born Christa Päffgen; singer-songwriter, fashion model, actress) (d. 1988) was born
1927-10-16
Birth
Peter Brinson
Peter Brinson, dance educationalist was born
1729-10-16
Birth
Pierre van Maldere
Pierre van Maldere, composer was born
1826-10-16
Birth
Piotr Studzinski
Piotr Studzinski, composer was born
1904-10-16
Birth
Reginald Dixon
Reginald Dixon, Sheffield, Britain, theatre organist, (d. 1985) was born
1969-10-16
Birth
Roy Hargrove
Roy Hargrove, American jazz trumpeter was born
1984-10-16
Birth
Shayne Ward
Shayne Ward, UK singer, winner of The X Factor, series 2005 was born
1935-10-16
Birth
Sugar Pie DeSanto
Sugar Pie DeSanto, US singer (Soulful dress) was born
1953-10-16
Birth
Tony Carey
Tony Carey, Fresno Ca, rocker was born
1982-10-16
Birth
Vincy Chan
Vincy Chan, Hong Kong singer was born
1969-10-16
Birth
Wendy Wilson
Wendy Wilson, Los Angeles Ca, rock vocalist (Wilson Phillips-Hold On) was born
1910-10-16
Birth
William Leonard Reed
William Leonard Reed, composer was born
2005-10-16
Death
"Len" Dresslar
"Len" Dresslar, American singer and voice actor (b. 1925)
1920-10-16
Death
Alberto Nepomuceno
Alberto Nepomuceno, Brazilian composer/conductor (Artemis), dies at 56
1799-10-16
Death
Antoine-Frederic Gresnick
Antoine-Frederic Gresnick, composer, dies at 44
1990-10-16
Death
Art Blakey
Art Blakey, jazz drummer (Jazz Messengers), dies of cancer at 71
1986-10-16
Death
Arthur Grumiaux
Arthur Grumiaux, Belgian violinist, dies at 65
1939-10-16
Death
Carl Henrik Ludolf Nielsen
Carl Henrik Ludolf Nielsen, composer, dies at 63
1893-10-16
Death
Carlo Pedrotti
Carlo Pedrotti, composer, dies at 75
1919-10-16
Death
Charles Harford Lloyd
Charles Harford Lloyd, composer, dies on 70th birthday
1974-10-16
Death
Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar
Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, noted Carnatic musician (b. 1895)
1978-10-16
Death
Dan Dailey
Dan Dailey, American dancer and actor (Governor & JJ), dies of anemia at 62
1987-10-16
Death
Dana Suesse
Dana Suesse, songwriter (You Ought to be in Pictures), dies at 75
2005-10-16
Death
David Reilly
David Reilly, American singer (God Lives Underwater) (b. 1971)
1880-10-16
Death
Edward Wolff
Edward Wolff, composer, dies at 64
1944-10-16
Death
Eric Westberg
Eric Westberg, composer, dies at 52
1822-10-16
Death
Eva Marie Veigel
Eva Marie Veigel, Austrian ballet dancer (b. 1724)
2010-10-16
Death
Eyedea
Eyedea, American rapper (Eyedea & Abilities) (b. 1981)
1918-10-16
Death
Felix Arndt
Felix Arndt, composer, dies at 29
1836-10-16
Death
Friedrich Theodor Frohlich
Friedrich Theodor Frohlich, composer, dies at 33
1973-10-16
Death
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa, US swing drummer (Sing Sing Sing), dies at 64
1983-10-16
Death
George Liberace
George Liberace, violinist (Liberace Show), dies at 72
1726-10-16
Death
Giovanni Maria Capelli
Giovanni Maria Capelli, composer, dies at 77
1946-10-16
Death
Granville Ransome Bantock
Granville Ransome Bantock, English composer/conductor, dies at 78
1949-10-16
Death
Hale Ascher VanderCook
Hale Ascher VanderCook, composer, dies at 85
1982-10-16
Death
Jacov Gotovac
Jacov Gotovac, composer, dies at 86
1996-10-16
Death
James Wild
James Wild, music teacher, dies at 68
1621-10-16
Death
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, organist/composer, dies at about 59
1990-10-16
Death
Jorge Bolet
Jorge Bolet, Cuban-American classical pianist (b. 1914)
1655-10-16
Death
Joseph Solomon Delmedigo
Joseph Solomon Delmedigo, Italian physician, mathematician, and music theorist (b. 1591)
1814-10-16
Death
Juan Jose Landaeta
Juan Jose Landaeta, composer, dies at 34
1982-10-16
Death
Mario del Monaco
Mario del Monaco, Italian opera singer (Verdi/Puccini), dies at 67
1774-10-16
Death
Robert Fergusson
Robert Fergusson, Scottish songwriter (Scottish Poems), dies
1750-10-16
Death
Silvius Leopold Weiss
Silvius Leopold Weiss, composer, dies at 64
1991-10-16
Death
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Tennessee Ernie Ford, country singer (16 Tons), dies at 72
2006-10-16
Death
Tommy Johnson
Tommy Johnson, American tubist (b. 1935)
1991-10-16
Death
Tonny Huurdeman
Tonny Huurdeman, singer/actress (Frills), dies
2007-10-16
Death
Toše Proeski
Toše Proeski, Macedonian music star (b. 1981)
1994-10-16
Death
William Henry Swinburne
William Henry Swinburne, music teacher, dies at 87
Artist details
Loading artist details...