Mark Volman Dies: Founding Member of The Turtles Was 78
Mark Volman, founding member of the rock band The Turtles and the memorable voice behind their timeless hit “Happy Together,” has died at 78.
The singer passed away in Nashville after a brief and unexpected illness. Though his death came suddenly, Volman had shared in 2023 that he was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2020.
Born in Los Angeles, California, on April 19, 1947, Volman met Howard Kaylan in high school and began singing together. In 1963, the duo formed The Turtles as a surf band along with members Al Nichol, Chuck Portz, and Don Murray. The group went through several iterations before they finally had a hit with a cover of Bob Dylan‘s “It Ain’t Me Babe” in 1965. They followed the success with a string of hit singles, including “You Baby” (1966), “She’d Rather Be with Me” (1967), “Happy Together” (1967), and “Elenore” (1968).
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Following the success of The Turtles, Volman and Kaylan reinvented themselves in 1970 as Flo & Eddie, a comedy-music duo that found a devoted following on the fringe circuit with their mix of playful banter, sharp humor, popular standards, and quirky novelty songs. The band toured with the likes of Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention and worked with T. Rex, Alice Cooper, and Bruce Springsteen, to name a few. In 2024, Camila Cabello sampled their single “Keep It Warm” in her song, “I Luv It.”
In the 1980s, Volman turned his talents to children’s television, composing music for Strawberry Shortcake and the Easter special Peter and the Magic Egg. He also worked on the animated feature The Adventures of the American Rabbit for more mature audiences.
In 2023, he published a memoir of his life and work titled Happy Forever: My Musical Adventures With The Turtles, Frank Zappa, T. Rex, Flo & Eddie, and More.
Volman is survived by his significant other Emily Volman; his ex-wife Pat Volman and their daughters, Hallie Volman and Sarina Miller, and his brother, Phil Volman.
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