Some great music born in '66

I turn 40 today. I can't believe I made it.

Seriously, when I was growing up, I always thought I'd end up in the morgue before I turned 30. (My target age was 27, like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain.)

However, by authority higher than my own, I have lived quite a bit longer. In two years — assuming I'm still alive — I'll be as old as Elvis Presley was when he died in 1977.

And, for you Douglas Adams fans, that means I'll be the answer to "Life, the Universe and Everything."

But I'm jumping ahead of myself.

I was born in Cottonwood Hospital at 10:10 p.m. The year was 1966.

Here's what was happening in the music scene that year:

• The biggest group was the Monkees. The Fabricated Four's self-titled debut album was released to coincide with the TV show of the same name. ("Batman" and "Star Trek" also debuted on television — which may explain why the Dark Knight is my favorite superhero and why I love science fiction. But I digress. ... )

It was a Monkees year because the group's first two singles — "Last Train to Clarksville" and "I'm a Believer" — were both No. 1 hits, reigning for two and seven weeks, respectively.

• The New Vaudeville Band, featuring producer Geoff Stephens, hit No. 1 with "Winchester Cathedral"; The Righteous Brothers had a No. 1 hit "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration," and The Mamas & the Papas topped the chart with "Monday Monday."

• Also, Sgt. Barry Sadler released his hit single "The Ballad of the Green Berets," which stood tall on the No. 1 spot of Billboard's Top 100 singles for five weeks.

• The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" album was released, along with the single "Good Vibrations."

• Bob Dylan released the first double album in rock 'n' roll history, "Blonde on Blonde."

• Simon & Garfunkel released "Sounds of Silence."

• The Kinks released the album "Face to Face."

• Cream unleashed "Fresh Cream."

• The Beatles released "Revolver."

This was also the year when John Lennon made that infamous "more popular than Jesus" statement, which caused an uproar with Christians across America. And which resulted in album burnings, death threats, concert cancellations — the list goes on.

And 1966 was also the last year the Beatles toured or played live concerts in public.

• As for music deaths, Bobby Fuller, who was rumored to be in trouble with the Mafia, was found dead in his car in Hollywood. It was ruled a suicide, despite signs of a struggle.