On This Day in Music: October 2

On October 2 in music history, 54 artists were born, 24 died and 25 other milestones happened, among them The Beatles (2026), Dolly Parton (2020) and Mariah Carey (2020).

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Highlights

October 2

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Standout moments for this date.

The Beatles

The Beatles released the album 'Rubber Soul: Special Edition'

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton released the album 'A Holly Dolly Christmas'

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey released the album 'The Rarities'

Sting

Sting, [Gordon Sumner], rock vocalist (Police-Roxanne)/actor (Dune) was born

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Born on October 2

Al Connelly

Al Connelly, Canadian Musician/Songwriter was born

Albe Vidakovic

Albe Vidakovic, composer was born

Alois Pinos

Alois Pinos, composer was born

Annie Leibovitz

Annie Leibovitz, Waterbury, Connecticut, photgrapher (Rolling Stones) was born

Anton Emil Titl

Anton Emil Titl, composer was born

Ayumi Hamasaki

Ayumi Hamasaki, Japanese singer was born

Beau Grayson

Beau Grayson, son of country singer Tanya Tucker was born

Bengt Viktor Johansson

Bengt Viktor Johansson, composer was born

Bernarr Rainbow

Bernarr Rainbow, historian of music education, organist, and choir master (d.1998) was born

Bud Gaugh

Bud Gaugh, American musician (Sublime) was born

Chris LeDoux

Chris LeDoux, Biloxi Miss, country singer (Ridin' for a Fall) was born

Damon Gough

Damon Gough, English singer was born

Dimiter Khristov

Dimiter Khristov, composer was born

Django Bates

Django Bates, jazz musician was born

Don McLean

Don McLean, New Rochelle NY, singer/songwriter (American Pie, Vincent) was born

Francis Jackson

Francis Jackson, organist & master of Music/York minister was born

Frantisek Ignac Antonin Tuma

Frantisek Ignac Antonin Tuma, composer was born

Franz Schneider

Franz Schneider, composer was born

Fred Barlow

Fred Barlow, composer was born

Freddie Jackson

Freddie Jackson, US R&B singer/songwriter (Rock Me Tonight) was born

George Alexander Russell

George Alexander Russell, composer was born

George Pettit

George Pettit, Canadian singer (Alexisonfire) was born

Greg Jennings

Greg Jennings, Oklahoma City Oklahoma, country singer (Restless Heart-Wheels) was born

Guillaume Poitevin

Guillaume Poitevin, composer was born

Gunnar Wennerberg

Gunnar Wennerberg, composer was born

Gunter Kochan

Gunter Kochan, composer was born

Henry Fevrier

Henry Fevrier, composer was born

James Root

James Root, American guitarist (Slipknot) was born

Jeff Martin

Jeff Martin, Canadian singer/songwriter was born

Jo-el Sonnier

Jo-el Sonnier, Rayne La, country singer (Louisiana) was born

John Otway

John Otway, rocker was born

Josef Jawurek

Josef Jawurek, composer was born

Kenneth Leighton

Kenneth Leighton, composer was born

Lene

Lene, Norwegian singer (Aqua) was born

Leroy B Shield

Leroy B Shield, US pianist/producer/composer (Laurel & Hardy) was born

Lord Davies

Lord Davies, chairman (Welsh National Opera) was born

Maja Ivarsson

Maja Ivarsson, lead singer, The Sounds was born

Mandisa

Mandisa, American singer was born

Michael Rutherford

Michael Rutherford, English pop bassist and rocker (Genesis-Against All Odds, Mike & Mechanics) was born

Otmar Macha

Otmar Macha, composer was born

Peter Frankl

Peter Frankl, pianist was born

Philip Cipriani Hambley Potter

Philip Cipriani Hambley Potter, pianist/composer was born

Philip Oakey

Philip Oakey, Sheffield, rock vocalist (Human Leauge-Only Human) was born

Phill Niblock

Phill Niblock, composer was born

Richard Hell

Richard Hell, [Richard Myers], Lexington Ky, rock bassist (Television) was born

Robbie Nevil

Robbie Nevil, rocker (A Place Like This) was born

Robert Russell "Chubby" Wise

Robert Russell "Chubby" Wise, musician was born

Ron Meagher

Ron Meagher, rocker was born

Sigtryggur Baldursson

Sigtryggur Baldursson, Icelandic drummer (The Sugarcubes) was born

Sting

Sting, [Gordon Sumner], rock vocalist (Police-Roxanne)/actor (Dune) was born

Tiffany [Renee Darwich]

Tiffany [Renee Darwich], Norwalk California, rocker (I Think We're Alone Now) was born

Toro

Toro, Taiwanese singer was born

Wahed Wafa

Wahed Wafa, Afghan singer was born

William Marshall

William Marshall, producer/director/actor/singer (Blackmail) was born

Died on October 2

Alfred Julius Swan

Alfred Julius Swan, composer, dies at 79

Anders Bo Leif Linde

Anders Bo Leif Linde, composer, dies at 37

Antonio Cifra

Antonio Cifra, Italian composer (b. 1584)

Bola de Nieve

Bola de Nieve, Cuban singer, pianist, and songwriter (b. 1911)

Béla Szakcsi Lakatos

Béla Szakcsi Lakatos died

Chhannulal Mishra

Chhannulal Mishra died

Daniel Steibelt

Daniel Steibelt, composer, dies at 57 [OS=Sept 20]

Franz Biebl

Franz Biebl, German composer (b. 1906)

Frideswide Frances Emma Knight

Frideswide Frances Emma Knight, musician/socialist, dies at 85

Gene Autry

Gene Autry, American singer, actor, and entrepreneur (b. 1907)

Gerald Strang

Gerald Strang, Canadian composer, dies at 75

Hazel Scott

Hazel Scott, Trinidadian singer/pianist, dies at 63

Herta Staal

Herta Staal died

Jacquet of Mantua

Jacquet of Mantua, French composer (b. 1483)

Jaroslav Doubrava

Jaroslav Doubrava, composer, dies at 51

Jose Mariano Elizaga

Jose Mariano Elizaga, composer, dies at 56

Ken Tobias

Ken Tobias died

Max Bruch

Max Bruch, composer, dies at 82

Norman Ewart Thurston

Norman Ewart Thurston, musician, dies at 74

Robert Nathaniel Dett

Robert Nathaniel Dett, composer, dies at 60

Russell Alexander

Russell Alexander, composer, dies at 38

Sebastião Tapajós

Sebastião Tapajós died

Stephan Otto

Stephan Otto, German composer, dies at 53

Umer Shareef

Umer Shareef died

Releases & milestones on October 2

21 Savage

21 Savage released the album 'Savage Mode II'

Achille Lauro

Achille Lauro released the album 'Comuni immortali Live San Siro 2026'

Amaranthe

Amaranthe released the album 'Manifest'

Arde Bogotá

Arde Bogotá released the album 'Q141713086'

Ariete

Ariete released the album 'Tutti tornano a casa'

Blackpink

Blackpink released the album 'The Album'

Brooks & Dunn

30th Country Music Association Award: Brooks & Dunn win

Brymir

Brymir released the album 'What We Leave Behind'

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton released the album 'A Holly Dolly Christmas'

Epica

Epica released the album 'Live at The Symphonic Synergy'

Escape the Fate

Escape the Fate released the album 'The Last Goodbye'

Grateful Dead

Grateful Dead members arrested by narcotic agents

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey released the album 'The Rarities'

Melanie C

Melanie C released the album 'Melanie C'

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell Ndegeocello released the album 'Synonym'

Metro Boomin

Metro Boomin released the album 'Savage Mode II'

Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert released the album 'Crisco (album)'

Morris Stoloff

"Music in My Heart" opens at Adelphi Theater NYC for 124 performances

Nathy Peluso

Nathy Peluso released the album 'Calambre'

Paola Turci

Paola Turci released the album 'Amore a dismisura'

Queen + Adam Lambert

Queen + Adam Lambert released the album 'Live Around the World'

Sandy Wilson

Musical show "Valmouth" 1st produced in London

Swans

Swans released the album 'Newly Sentient Being'

The Beatles

The Beatles released the album 'Rubber Soul: Special Edition'

Victor Borge

"Comedy in Music (Victor Borge)" opens at John Golden NYC for 849 perf

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