Booker Ervin

Tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin was born on Oct. 31. His "Eerie Dearie" is a must for your spooky playlist this year.

Down-home and majestic, the tenor saxophonist's sound was like a cane stalk shooting up out of rich earth. His 1960 album The Book Cooks features fellow sax-man Zoot Sims in a friendly square-off.