Mark Volman, Co-founder of The Turtles and Singer of "Happy Together," Dies at 78

Mark Volman, co-founder of the 1960s pop group The Turtles, has died at 78. He was the voice behind the band's chart-topping hit "Happy Together." Volman's music career began in 1963, and he later formed the duo Flo & Eddie with former bandmate Howard Kaylan. He earned a master's degree in screenwriting in his 40s and taught music at Belmont University in Nashville. Volman was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2020 and died after a brief illness.

Mark Volman, a founding member of the iconic 1960s pop group The Turtles, has died at the age of 78. Volman was known for his distinctive voice and harmonies, which were integral to the band's chart-topping hits such as "Happy Together" and "It Ain't Me Babe" [1].

Volman's musical journey began in 1963 when he joined his classmate Howard Kaylan's band, the Crossfires, which later became The Turtles. The group's first Top 10 hit came in 1965 with a cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe." Over the years, The Turtles scored nine Top 30 pop singles in the U.S., including five Top 10s, and "She’d Rather Be with Me" and "Elenore" made the UK Top 10 [1].

After the band split in 1970, Volman and Kaylan reinvented themselves as the duo Flo & Eddie. They toured with Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and provided background vocals for artists like T. Rex, Duran Duran, and Bruce Springsteen. Flo & Eddie's stage show was marked by their humorous antics and distinctive vocal harmonies [1].

Volman's career extended beyond music. In his 40s, he earned a master's degree in screenwriting at Loyola Marymount University and later taught music business at Belmont University in Nashville. He also published a memoir titled "Happy Forever" in 2023, detailing his musical adventures [1].

Volman was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2020, a progressive neurological disorder that affects cognition, motor function, and behavior. Despite the diagnosis, he continued to perform on the annual "Happy Together" oldies tours until his retirement in 2023 [1].

Volman passed away in Nashville on September 5, 2025, following a brief, unexpected illness. He is survived by his significant other Emily Volman, his ex-wife Pat Volman, their daughters Hallie Volman and Sarina Miller, and his brother Phil Volman [1, 2].

References:
[1] https://deadline.com/2025/09/mark-volman-dead-the-turtles-1236509216/
[2] https://people.com/the-turtles-mark-volman-dead-age-78-11804481