Bobby Parker a soul-blues singer and guitarist whose recordings from the late 1950s and 1960s influenced performers as varied as John Lennon, Carlos Santana, and Led Zeppelin died Oct. 31. A veteran of the ‘‘chitlin’ circuit’’ of black theaters, Mr. Parker wrote two much-covered hit recordings on the rhythm-and-blues charts, ‘‘Blues Get Off My Shoulder’’ (1958), a somber ballad enlivened by his trenchant guitar work, and ‘‘Watch Your Step’’ (1961).

Noel Harrison died on October 19th. I knew him as the singer of Young Girl, Suzanne and this song, my favorite of his. I also remember him on The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. I didn’t know he was a member of the British ski team, becoming its first giant-slalom champion in 1953, and representing Great Britain at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway and at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’ Ampezzo, Italy.  

This is a special one. Just ask Red Sox fans!