He performed with the likes of Frank Zappa and partied with John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix
THE Turtles singer Mark Volman, known for rock hit “Happy Together”, has died aged 78.
The beloved artist who was a founding member of the iconic 1960s band died after a “brief, unexpected illness” on Friday.
The popular rocker died in Nashville, Tennessee, a spokesperson told People.
The Turtles co-founder was also known for his performances on hits such as “It Ain’t Me Babe,” “You Baby,” “She’d Rather Be with Me” and “Elenore”.
Volman previously revealed he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2020.
He bravely opened up about his experiences suffering from tremors and hallucinations in 2023.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, the icon’s musical career started in his high school days which date back to 1963.
He joined classmate Howard Kaylan – The Turtles frontman – and his band at the time which was named The Crossfires.
This outfit was eventually renamed The Turtles – and their first Top 10 hit came in 1965.
The breakout track was a version of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe”.
They then shot to stardom with pop sensations like “Happy Together”.
Volman became a fan-favourite with his grinning smile and luscious locks.
The band split up in 1970 – before Volman and frontman Kaylan set up an artistic duo dubbed Flo & Eddie.
They toured and performed alongside rock genius Frank Zappa and sang backing vocals for industry giants Duran Duran and Bruce Springsteen.
In 2023, he put together a memoir compiling his greatest moments called Happy Forever.
The gripping read included tales of partying with the likes of Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon.
In his 40s, Volman earned a master’s in screenwriting at Loyola Marymount University.
He also went on to teach music at Belmont University in Nashville.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/15127782/turtles-founder-dies-mark-volman