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| Mark Volman (1946-2025) |
Mark Volman, a founding member of the 1960s rock band The Turtles and known as "Flo" of the duo Flo & Eddie, passed away Friday in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 78.
His death was attributed to a brief, unexpected illness, as confirmed by his representative in a statement to PEOPLE. Volman had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2020, which he publicly revealed in 2023, though it’s unclear if this directly contributed to his passing.
Despite his diagnosis, he continued performing on the "Happy Together" tour, named after The Turtles’ 1967 chart-topping hit, until 2024, sharing vocals with Ron Dante after his longtime bandmate Howard Kaylan retired in 2018 due to health issues.
Volman, born April 19, 1947, in Los Angeles, co-founded The Turtles with Kaylan, contributing to hits like “Happy Together,” “Elenore,” and “It Ain’t Me Babe.” After the band’s breakup in 1970, he and Kaylan formed Flo & Eddie, touring with Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention and providing backing vocals for artists like T. Rex and Bruce Springsteen.
Volman also worked on music for children’s shows like Strawberry Shortcake and later became a college professor, teaching music business at Belmont University in Nashville after earning a bachelor’s degree and an MFA from Loyola Marymount University.
His memoir, Happy Forever: My Musical Adventures With The Turtles, Frank Zappa, T. Rex, Flo & Eddie, and More, was published in 2023, detailing his career and experiences