September 7, 2025

Mark Volman, co-founder of the famous 1960s pop band The Turtles and later one-half of the duo Flo & Eddie, has passed away at the age of 78. He died on September 5 in Nashville after a brief, unexpected illness, as shared by his family and reported by Deadline. Volman was instantly recognized by his trademark curly hair and wide grin. He was the catchy voice behind some of the 1960s most beloved songs, including the classic hit "Happy Together," as well as "Elenore," "She’d Rather Be with Me," and "You Baby." Born in 1947 in Los Angeles, Mark Volman started his music journey with his schoolmate Howard Kaylan. Together they formed The Turtles, a band that rocketed to fame in 1965 with a cover of Bob Dylan’s "It Ain't Me Babe." Their peppy tunes and sweet harmonies made them stars on TV variety shows and beloved across the globe. The Turtles’ biggest triumph came in 1967 with the chart-topping single "Happy Together," a song that still fills hearts with joy. When The Turtles split up in 1970, Volman and Kaylan reinvented themselves as the quirky, fun-loving duo Flo & Eddie. They mixed humor with strong singing and even worked with the legendary Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention. Not stopping there, the pair added their unique voices to T. Rex’s "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" and collaborated with huge stars like Bruce Springsteen and Duran Duran. They also contributed to the children’s show Strawberry Shortcake. Despite health challenges, Volman toured for decades with the Happy Together shows, sharing the stage with other 60s and 70s legends. Showing his brains off stage too, Volman went back to school in his 40s to get degrees in music and screenwriting. He later taught music business, most famously at Nashville’s Belmont University. In 2023, he shared his colorful life story in the memoir "Happy Forever: My Musical Adventures With The Turtles, Frank Zappa, T. Rex, Flo & Eddie, and More," revealing exciting encounters with stars like Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. Sadly, in 2020, Volman was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a tough brain illness. Still, he didn’t give up performing and kept rocking on the Happy Together tours until 2025. He told People magazine, "The challenges of this world affect everybody, and it’s been kind of fun being on the other side of a challenge like this and saying, 'I feel good. My friends are here. I’m still here.'" Mark leaves behind his partner Emily Volman, his ex-wife Pat, daughters Hallie Volman and Sarina Miller, and brother Phil Volman, Variety reports. His legendary voice and joyful spirit will remain forever alive in music lovers’ hearts.

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Tags: Mark volman, The turtles, Flo & eddie, Lewy body dementia, Happy together, Nashville,