Mark Volman, Co-Founder of The Turtles and ’60s Music Icon, Dies at 78

Mark Volman—one of the voices that defined an era—singer and co-founder of ’60s pop group The Turtles, passed away Friday, September 5 at the age of 78. The Turtles, best known for their #1 smash hit “Happy Together,” were powered by the partnership of lead singer Howard Kaylan and his close friend, guitarist and harmony vocalist Volman.

The duo, also known as Flo and Eddie, met in a Los Angeles high school and formed a surf band called The Crossfires. After graduating, they re-branded themselves as The Turtles and switched styles to folk-rock, scoring a hit single in late ’65 with “It Ain’t Me, Babe,” a Bob Dylan cover.

From Folk-Rock To Pop Stardom

After reaching the Top 40 a few more times, they landed a massive, career-defining hit with “Happy Together,” a classic pop tune that knocked The Beatles’ “Penny Lane” out of the #1 spot in the Spring of ’67. More hits followed: “She’d Rather Be with Me,” “Elenore,” and “You Showed Me.” But by the end of the ‘60s, the hits dried up.

To complicate matters, Volman and Kaylan were forbidden legally from using not just the name of The Turtles, but their own given names for performances. Not to be deterred, the duo adopted the moniker Flo and Eddie and joined Frank Zappa’s band the Mothers of Invention, also starring in Zappa’s 1971 cult film 200 Motels.

The duo made several albums of their own and contributed vocals to many great albums and songs, including the classic T. Rex LP’s Electric Warrior and The Slider and Bruce Springsteen’s 1980 hit “Hungry Heart.”

A Legacy Beyond The Stage

Volman began work on a Bachelor’s degree in 1992 at the age of 45, enrolling at Loyola Marymount University where he was active in the choir and helped found a campus fraternity. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and, while giving the valedictorian speech, led the attendees in a sing-along of “Happy Together.”

He continued at Loyola Marymount, earning a Master’s in Fine Arts with an emphasis on screenwriting in 1999, and went on to teach at Los Angeles Valley College, eventually becoming an associate professor at Belmont University.

While The Turtles had many hits, there is one for which he will always be remembered. “Happy Together” perfectly captures the blissful feeling of being in love and knowing it will last forever—a beautiful sentiment that resonates with millions and stands as a lasting monument to his artistry.