Mark Volman, The Turtles co-founder, dead at 78

Mark Volman — founding member of the ’60s rock band The Turtles — has died at age 78.

The musician passed away on Sept. 5 following a “brief, unexpected illness” in Nashville, Tenn., his rep said in a statement to People.

His rep was not immediately available for comment.

The Turtles became a hit 60 years ago when the band scored their first Top 10 smash with their own version of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe” in 1965.

The rock group, first known as the Crossfires, was formed by Volman and his schoolmate Howard Kaylan.

The band went on to have several other successes, including “You Baby” (1966), “Happy Together” (1967), “She’d Rather Be with Me” (1967), “Elenore” (1968), and “You Showed Me” (1969), which all broke into the Top 40 list.

Their biggest and only number one hit was “Happy Together.”

Their commercial success started trailing off soon after, and The Turtles split up in 1970.

But Volman and Kaylan’s musical careers weren’t over yet.

After The Turtles’ breakup, the buddies formed the rock duo Flo & Eddie and went on to tour with Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention.

Volman and Kaylan also sang backup vocals for T. Rex, Duran Duran and Bruce Springsteen.

The singer shared his musical memories, which included partying with the likes of fellow rockers Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon, in his 2023 memoir, “Happy Forever.”

“It all sounds like a dream now,” Volman shared with People at the time while promoting the book. “I’m just a groupie at heart.”

In 2020, he was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a neurological disorder that affects thinking, memory and movement. It’s the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, per the Mayo Clinic.

“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 of his diagnosis in 2023.

Volman used medications to control his hallucinations and tremors, which made him able to go on the Happy Together tour despite his diagnosis, according to People.

The Turtles reunited to headline the annual ’60s music fest without Kaylan, who was unable to tour due to health ailments.

Volman expressed his gratitude at the time.

“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,” the singer shared in June 2023.

He shared his final Instagram post on Jan. 15, in which he spoke about the devastation from the California wildfires.

“As a born and raised Angeleno, I have watched all this in disbelief and heartbreak,” Volman wrote.

“One of the fires came dangerously close to my former Laurel Canyon home and friends have lost so much. Even if they didn’t lose their home, everyone in the city has lost a bit of faith and innocence,” he continued, before dropping his wisdom on his followers.

“But, at my age & having been through a lot of s–t, 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. ❤️🤙🏽💪🏼,” he concluded.

Volman is survived by his partner Emily Volman, his brother Phil Volman, and two children: daughters Hallie Volman and Sarina Miller, whom he shared with his ex-wife Pat Volman.