Mark Volman

Mark Volman, a founding member of the '60s rock group the Turtles, died on Friday, Sept. 5, at the age of 78. Born in Los Angeles on April 19, 1947, Volman began playing music and performing at an early age. It was at Westchester High School where he met classmate and future bandmate Howard Kaylan, joining the latter's band, the Crossfires. After graduating from high school in 1965, he and Kaylan founded the Turtles alongside lead guitarist Al Nichol, rhythm guitarist Jim Tucker, bassist Chuck Portz, and drummer Don Murray. Together, the group released their No. 1 hit "Happy Together," as well as such songs as "It Ain't Me Babe," "You Baby," "She'd Rather Be with Me," and "Elenore." After the band split in 1970, he and Kaylan reinvented themselves as the duo Flo & Eddie. They toured with Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention, created infamous background vocals on various hit albums from T. Rex to Bruce Springsteen, wrote for children's television shows like Strawberry Shortcake, and earned a reputation for irreverent humor and versatility. Volman returned to college in his '40s, earning his bachelor's and master's degrees in screenwriting at Loyola Marymount University before teaching music business at several institutions, most notably Belmont University in Nashville. He is survived by his significant other, Emily Volman; his ex-wife Pat Voman and their daughters, Hallie Volman and Sarina Miller; and his brother, Phil Volman.