Mark Volman, Turtles and Flo & Eddie Co-Founder and Singer on ‘Happy Together,’ Dies at 78

Mark Volman, a founding member of the 1960s pop-rock band the Turtles and one half of the beloved comedy-music act Flo & Eddie, passed away on Friday in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 78. His death came after a brief and unexpected illness.

Born in Los Angeles in 1947, Volman showed an early passion for music. Alongside Howard Kaylan and other musicians, he formed the Turtles in 1965. The band soared to popularity with timeless hits such as “Happy Together,” “Elenore,” and their rendition of “It Ain’t Me Babe,” with Volman’s vocal harmonies becoming a defining feature of their polished, upbeat sound. The Turtles were emblematic of the sunshine pop movement, offering a lighter, melodic counterpoint to the harder rock dominating the airwaves in the late 1960s.

Following the Turtles’ breakup in 1970, Volman and Kaylan reinvented themselves as Flo & Eddie, merging humor and music in a format that won them a dedicated following. They toured extensively with Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention and became sought-after backing vocalists, contributing to iconic tracks including T. Rex’s “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart.” Their creative reach extended into children’s media, where they composed music for shows like “Strawberry Shortcake.”

In a notable midlife pivot, Volman returned to academia in his late forties. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University in 1997 and completed a Master of Fine Arts just two years later. He went on to teach music business, most recently at Belmont University—a school renowned for its music industry programs and located in the heart of Nashville’s entertainment scene. Despite receiving a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia in 2020, Volman remained active in performance during the early stages of his illness. He publicly shared his condition in 2023 and released a memoir titled “Happy Forever,” which chronicled his storied career. As music historian Dr. Elena Morris observed, “Mark’s evolution from stage performer to educator demonstrated a profound dedication to fostering the next generation—a legacy that extends his influence far beyond his own recordings.”

Volman is survived by his partner Emily Volman, former wife Pat Volman, daughters Hallie Volman and Sarina Miller, and brother Phil Volman. His enduring impact is felt not only through his extensive discography but also through the countless students he inspired during his years as a mentor and professor.