The Turtles Co-founder Mark Volman (1947 - 2025) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 09-05-2025, 03:45 PM

https://people.com/the-turtles-mark-...ge-78-11804481

Mark Volman, who's a founding member of the '60s rock band The Turtles, has died. He was 78.

Volman died on Sept. 5 after a "brief, unexpected illness" in Nashville Tenn., his rep confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE.

Volman began his musical career in high school in 1963, when he joined his classmate Howard Kaylan's band the Crossfires. Eventually renamed The Turtles, the band had their first Top 10 hit in 1965 with a version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain’t Me Babe."

The band was further propelled into fame with hits like "Happy Together" and "Elenore" — and Volman was a standout with his wide grin and curly hair.

After the band split in 1970, Volman and Kaylan began performing as the duo Flo & Eddie. They toured with Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and sang background vocals for artists like T. Rex, Duran Duran and Bruce Springsteen.

In 2023, Volman recalled these epic memories, along with partying with John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix, in a memoir titled Happy Forever.

“It all sounds like a dream now,” Volman told PEOPLE at the time. “I’m just a groupie at heart.”

In his 40s, Volman earned a master's in screenwriting at Loyola Marymount University and went on to teach music at Belmont University in Nashville.

In 2020, Volman was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological disorder after he experienced hallucinations, tremors and struggles with concentration. Three years later, in 2023, he opened up about the diagnosis for the first time in an interview with PEOPLE.

“I got hit by the knowledge that this was going to create a whole new part of my life. And I said, ‘Okay, whatever’s going to happen will happen, but I’ll go as far as I can,'" he said at the time.

With medication to help control his tremors and hallucinations, Volman continued to perform on the Happy Together tour, an annual ’60s music fest that Volman and The Turtles (minus Kaylan, who has stopped touring due to health issues) headline.

“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. And I want people to connect with me," he told PEOPLE.

In his final Instagram post in January, Volman — who was born and raised in Los Angeles — asked his followers to stay strong and come together amid the destructive wildfires.

Volman 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.

Dude111 · 09-05-2025, 08:42 PM

Very very sad

I like that group!

Hawkee · 09-06-2025, 02:44 AM

Is Elenore that song that goes,
"Elenore gee I think you're swell and you really do me well"
"You're my pride and joy etc?"
Elenore is one of my dad's favorite The Turtles songs because it's got a good beat

Edward216 · 09-13-2025, 08:38 PM

I love The Turtles' song Happy Together, may he rest in peace.

Ed.

09-05-2025, 03:45 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,366	The Turtles Co-founder Mark Volman (1947 - 2025) https://people.com/the-turtles-mark-...ge-78-11804481 Mark Volman, who's a founding member of the '60s rock band The Turtles, has died. He was 78. Volman died on Sept. 5 after a "brief, unexpected illness" in Nashville Tenn., his rep confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE. Volman began his musical career in high school in 1963, when he joined his classmate Howard Kaylan's band the Crossfires. Eventually renamed The Turtles, the band had their first Top 10 hit in 1965 with a version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain’t Me Babe." The band was further propelled into fame with hits like "Happy Together" and "Elenore" — and Volman was a standout with his wide grin and curly hair. After the band split in 1970, Volman and Kaylan began performing as the duo Flo & Eddie. They toured with Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and sang background vocals for artists like T. Rex, Duran Duran and Bruce Springsteen. In 2023, Volman recalled these epic memories, along with partying with John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix, in a memoir titled Happy Forever. “It all sounds like a dream now,” Volman told PEOPLE at the time. “I’m just a groupie at heart.” In his 40s, Volman earned a master's in screenwriting at Loyola Marymount University and went on to teach music at Belmont University in Nashville. In 2020, Volman was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological disorder after he experienced hallucinations, tremors and struggles with concentration. Three years later, in 2023, he opened up about the diagnosis for the first time in an interview with PEOPLE. “I got hit by the knowledge that this was going to create a whole new part of my life. And I said, ‘Okay, whatever’s going to happen will happen, but I’ll go as far as I can,'" he said at the time. With medication to help control his tremors and hallucinations, Volman continued to perform on the Happy Together tour, an annual ’60s music fest that Volman and The Turtles (minus Kaylan, who has stopped touring due to health issues) headline. “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. And I want people to connect with me," he told PEOPLE. In his final Instagram post in January, Volman — who was born and raised in Los Angeles — asked his followers to stay strong and come together amid the destructive wildfires. Volman 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.

09-06-2025, 02:44 AM	#3
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,782	Is Elenore that song that goes, "Elenore gee I think you're swell and you really do me well" "You're my pride and joy etc?" Elenore is one of my dad's favorite The Turtles songs because it's got a good beat
	__________________ Hawkee and Aguilar, Hoping to be a great team

09-05-2025, 08:42 PM	#2
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,981	Very very sad I like that group!

09-13-2025, 08:38 PM	#4
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,634	I love The Turtles' song Happy Together, may he rest in peace. Ed.