The Turtles co-founder Mark Volman has died aged 78. 

Guitarist and vocalist Volman, who passed away on September 5 in Nashville, Tennessee, was confirmed to have succumbed to a ‘brief, unexpected illness,’ as stated by his representative to People.

The Turtles were known for hits including Billboard number one single Happy Together in 1967 and Elenore in 1968.

Volman became part of The Turtles in 1963 while attending Westchester High School in California, joining alongside his fellow founding member Howard Kaylan. At the time, the band was initially known as the Nightriders and later the Crossfires.

While Volman first started out as a saxophonist in the surf music band, he and Kaylan became lead vocalists when the group switched to folk rock. 

The founding line-up of The Turtles became Volman, Kaylan, Don Murray, Al Nichol, Jim Tucker and Chuck Portz. 

The Turtles co-founder Mark Volman has died aged 78 – pictured 2023

The Turtles gained fame with hits like the Billboard number one single “Happy Together” in 1967 and “Elenore” in 1968. Pictured in a 1967 photo are band members (back L-R) Al Nichol, Jim Tucker, Mark Volman, Howard Kaylan, and (front L-R) Johnny Barbara and Jim Pon.

The band’s later members were bassists Chip Douglas and Jim Pons, and drummers Joel Larson, Johnny Barbata, and John Seiter.

Their breakthrough single, a cover of Bob Dylan’s It Ain’t Me Babe was released in 1965 and reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

This was followed by singles Let Me Be and You Baby. Tracks Grim Reaper of Love and Can I Get To Know You Better bombed in the US.

In 1966, after Murray and Portz quit, Barbata and Douglas entered the group. 

Happy Together was released in 1967 and became the group’s most famous single – kicking the Beatles’ Penny Lane off the top of the US charts. 

That same year Tucker quit the band. 

In 1968 the band released a concept album called The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands – which featured hit singles Elenore and You Showed Me.

Volman was known for his distinctive curly locks and in 1968, NME magazine even reported that he had insured his hair for $100,000.

Their last original album, Turtle Soup, was launched in 1969, amidst disputes with the record label, which reportedly aimed to reshape the band into a pop act similar to The Monkees.

After the band broke up in 1970, Volman and Kaylan joined Frank Zappa’s band the Mothers of Invention, with Pons also becoming part of the line-up.

As they were barred from using The Turtles’ name due to a contractual issue with White Whale Records, Volman and Kaylan performed under the aliases Phlorescent Leech & Eddie or Flo & Eddie.

Volman and Kaylan played on several Zappa albums, and starred in his 1971 film 200 Motels. 

They also sang backing vocals on T. Rex songs including 1971’s Get It On (Bang a Gong) and the albums Electric Warrior and The Slider.

In 2020, Volman was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia (LBD), a progressive brain disorder that affects thinking, memory and movement.

In a 2023 interview with People, Volman expressed, “I got hit by the knowledge that this was going to create a whole new part of my life. And I said, ‘OK, whatever’s going to happen will happen, but I’ll go as far as I can.'”

Volman was known for his wild curly locks and stellar talent – pictured 1975

Volman joined The Turtles – then known as the Nightriders and later the Crossfires – in 1963 when he was a student at Westchester High School in California with member Howard Kaylan – pictured with Kaylan in 2010

In 2020, Volman was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia (LBD), a progressive brain disorder that affects thinking, memory and movement – pictured June 2024

‘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.’

Volman is survived by partner Emily Volman, his ex-wife Pat Volman, their daughters Hallie Volman and Sarina Miller and his brother Phil Volman.  

His final Instagram post in January 2025 saw the frail star ask for strength for Los Angeles amid the devastating wildfires.

He wrote: ‘As a born and raised Angeleno, I have watched all this in disbelief and heartbreak. One of the fires came dangerously close to my former Laurel Canyon home and friends have lost so much. 

His final Instagram post in January 2025 saw the frail star ask for strength for Los Angeles amid the devastating wildfires

‘Even if they didn’t lose their home, everyone in the city has lost a bit of faith and innocence. But, at my age & having been through a lot of shit, man, here’s what I know: No one can steal your spirit! 

‘We are of strong, formidable roots and even more creative, industrious minds. Los Angeles is Number One! I will never believe anything less.’