
09/08/2025
What a voice, and funny too. Even though I enjoyed the music of The Turtles, primarily the vocals, I remember laughing my ass off watching him and Howard, Kaylan in Frank Zappa's 200 Motels, a fairly sh*tty movie otherwise (although with good music).
Mark Volman, Founding Member of The Turtles, Has Passed Away at 78 š¶
We are saddened to share that Mark Volman, co-founder and voice behind The Turtlesā timeless classics like āHappy Togetherā, āIt Aināt Me Babeā, and āElenoreā, passed away on September 5, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 78, succumbing to a brief, unexpected illness.
With a musical journey that began alongside Howard Kaylan in their high school band The Crossfires, Volman helped shape the soulful harmonies and optimism of 1960s pop rock. After The Turtles disbanded in 1970, he reinvented himself as part of the comedy-rock duo Flo & Eddie, collaborating with Frank Zappa, laying backing vocals on hits by T. Rex, Bruce Springsteen, and more.
Despite being diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2020, Volman continued performing on the Happy Together tours with remarkable courage. He spoke openly about his condition in 2023, expressing his determination: āWhateverās going to happen will happen, but Iāll go as far as I can.ā
Friends and fans cherished his remarkable optimism ā he maintained a playful spirit and that trademark big old smile right up until the end.
Beyond the stage, Volman embraced academia ā earning degrees in screenwriting and teaching music business to a new generation of students at institutions like Belmont University. He also shared his life story in a heartfelt memoir, Happy Forever, released in 2023.
He is survived by his partner Emily Volman, daughters Hallie Volman and Sarina Miller, his ex-wife Pat Volman, and his brother Phil Volman.