Mark Volman obit

Mark Volman Dies: Founding Member Of Hit-Making ’60s Pop Group The Turtles Was 78

 

He was not on the list.

Mark Volman, a founding member of the 1960s pop group The Turtles sang on its No. 1 hit “Happy Together” and whose bright harmonies also fueled such songs “It Ain’t Me Babe,” “You Baby,” “She’d Rather Be with Me” and “Elenore,” died Friday in Nashville following a brief, unexpected illness. He was 78.

Volman revealed in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2020, but he continued to perform on the annual “Happy Together” oldies tours in the years that followed.

Alongside his Turtles partner Howard Kalan, Volman followed up the Turtles first burst of fame by reinventing themselves in 1970 as Flo & Eddie. Their stage show was marked by the duo’s humorous antics, Volman’s untamed mop of curly hair and, always, their distinctive vocal harmonies. They toured with Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention and provided background vocals on songs including T. Rex’s “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” and later Bruce Springsteen’s first Top 10 single “Hungry Heart.” They even wrote for the children’s television show Strawberry Shortcake. Camila Cabello used their song “Keep It Warm” in her 2024 hit single, “I Luv It.”

Kaylan retired in 2018 due to health issues, leaving Volman as the last original Turtles member performing with the band.

Born in Los Angeles on April 19, 1947, Volman met Kaylan and they began singing together during their high school years. As The Turtles, the group’s first hit came in 1965 with a cover version of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe,” and over the next several years additional hits landed on the charts, Along with those listed above, their successes included “She’s My Girl” and “You Showed Me,” among others.

In all, The Turtles scored nine Top 30 pop hits including five Top 10s. Less successful on the album chart, the band’s lone Top 10 LP was the 1967 compilation disc The Turtles! Golden Hits.

The Turtles supported their singles releases with seeming ubiquitous appearances on TV variety shows of the era.

In midlife, Volman returned to college, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees before teaching music business at several institutions, most notably Belmont University in Nashville. In 2023, he published his memoir, Happy Forever: My Musical Adventures With The Turtles, Frank Zappa, T. Rex, Flo & Eddie, and More.

In 2010, Volman and Kaylan began annual Happy Together tours, often alongside other acts from the ’60s and ’70s including Gary Puckett, Mitch Ryder, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere & The Raiders, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, Gary Lewis and The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz. Volman continued as part of the tour through summer 2025, pairing with Archies singer Ron Dante, of “Sugar Sugar” fame, after Kaylan retired.

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.

Composer

Camila Cabello Feat. Playboi Carti: I Luv It (2024)

Camila Cabello Feat. Playboi Carti: I Luv It

7.5

Music Video

Composer

2024

 

The Adventures of the American Rabbit (1986)

The Adventures of the American Rabbit

5.3

Composer (music: all written, produced and performed by)

1986

 

Peter and the Magic Egg (1983)

Peter and the Magic Egg

6.5

TV Movie

Composer

1983

 

Strawberry Shortcake (1980)

Strawberry Shortcake

6.4

TV Series

Composer

1980–1982

3 episodes

 

Texas Detour (1978)

Texas Detour

5.1

Composer (as Volman)

1978

 

Dirty Duck (1974)

Dirty Duck

5.2

Composer

1974

 

Actor

Brooke Shields, Judd Nelson, Eric Idle, Nestor Carbonell, Rob Estes, Kathy Griffin, Barbara Barrie, Currie Graham, and Sherri Shepherd in Suddenly Susan (1996)

Suddenly Susan

5.9

TV Series

Flo (as Flo)

1999

1 episode

 

It's Garry Shandling's Show. (1986)

It's Garry Shandling's Show.

7.7

TV Series

Mark Volman (as Eddie)

1988

1 episode

 

Coming Attractions (1978)

Coming Attractions

4.5

Biker

1978

 

Dirty Duck (1974)

Dirty Duck

5.2

DuckSide Hack Rider (voice)

1974

 

T. Rex in T. Rex: Hot Love (1971)

T. Rex: Hot Love

Music Video

Mark Volman

1971

 

200 Motels (1971)

200 Motels

5.6

Member of Mothers of Invention

1971

 

The Turtles: Happy Together

7.8

Music Video

1967

 

Music Department

The Adventures of the American Rabbit (1986)

The Adventures of the American Rabbit

5.3

writer/producer/performer: all lyrics

1986

 

Top Secret! (1984)

Top Secret!

7.2

additional lyrics

1984

 

Texas Detour (1978)

Texas Detour

5.1

music performer (as Flo)

1978

 

Dirty Duck (1974)

Dirty Duck

5.2

musician

1974

 

200 Motels (1971)

200 Motels

5.6

music performer: Mothers of Invention

1971