Mark Volman, a founding member of the 1960s rock band the Turtles and singer known as “Flo” of Flo & Eddie, died in Nashville, Tenn. on Friday after a brief sudden illness. He was 78.
Born in Los Angeles in 1947, Volman began playing music and performing at an early age. After graduating from Westchester High School in 1965, he founded the Turtles with Howard Kaylan alongside lead guitarist Al Nichol, rhythm guitarist Jim Tucker, bassist Chuck Portz and drummer Don Murray. They released pop hits such as “It Ain’t Me Babe,” “Elenore” and the No 1 Billboard Hot 100 track “Happy Together,” on which he sang harmony.
The Turtles broke up in 1970, leading Volman and Kaylan to form Flo & Eddie. As a musical duo, they toured with Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention and created background tracks for various artists from T. Rex (on “Bang a Gong (Get It On)”) to Bruce Springsteen (“Hungry Heart”). They also created music for television, notably the children’s series “Strawberry Shortcake.”
In his late forties, Volman returned to school to complete his Bachelors Degree at Loyola Marymount University. He graduated in 1997 and then completed an M.F.A. in 1999. He then began teaching music business courses at the college level, most consistently at Belmont University in Nashville.
Volman was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2020, but continued to perform through the early stages of his illness. In 2023, he revealed his diagnosis and the same year published his memoir, “Happy Forever: My Musical Adventures With The Turtles, Frank Zappa, T. Rex, Flo & Eddie, and More.”
He is survived by his significant other Emily Volman, his ex-wife Pat Volman and their daughters Hallie Volman and Sarina Miller, and his brother Phil Volman.
