Cliff Notes – 60s rock band guitarist Mark Volman dies aged 78 after unexpected illness
- Mark Volman, co-founder of The Turtles, passed away in Nashville after a brief illness, confirmed by his representative.
- Diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2020, Volman continued to perform despite his condition and published a memoir in 2023.
- He is survived by his wife, ex-wife, two daughters, and brother, leaving a legacy marked by hits like “Happy Together” and “Elenore.”
60s rock band guitarist Mark Volman dies aged 78 after ‘unexpected illness’
Mark Volman has died aged 78 (Picture: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
The Turtles guitarist and vocalist Mark Volman has died aged 78.
Volman died in Nashville, Tennessee on Friday (Sunday 5) after a ‘brief, unexpected illness’.
Volman was a founding member of The Turtles, who initially went by the Crossfires, in 1963. He was a student at Westchester High School in California at the time, along with member Howard Kaylan.
The Turtles had a number of hits to their name, including Happy Together in 1967 and Elenore in 1968.
Volman’s representative confirmed news of the rockstar’s death in a statement to People.
Volman was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia (LBD) in 2020. Lewy body dementia is a progressive brain disorder, which causes changes to sleep, behaviour and movement.
The Turtles were originally called Crossfires (Picture: Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Volman continued to perform through the early stages of his illness.
He revealed his diagnosis in 2023 and the same year published his memoir, Happy Forever: My Musical Adventures With The Turtles, Frank Zappa, T. Rex, Flo & Eddie, and More.
In his final Instagram post in January, Los Angeles native Volman asked his followers to come together amid the destructive wildfires.
Volman is survived by his wife Emily Volman, his ex-wife Pat Volman, their daughters Hallie Volman and Sarina Miller and his brother Phil Volman.
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