Mark Volmana founding member of the 1960s rock band The turtles And singer known as “Flo” from Flo & Eddie, died in Nashville, Tenn. On Friday after a brief sudden illness. He was 78.
Born in Los Angeles in 1947, Volman started playing music and performing at an early age. After graduating from Westchester High School in 1965, he founded the turtles with Howard Kaylan together with leaderist Al Nichol, rhythm guitarist Jim Tucker, bassist Chuck Portz and drummer Don Murray. They released pop hits like “It Ain’t me babe”, “Elenore” and no. Billboard Hot 100 track “Happy Together”, which he sang harmony.
The turtles broke up in 1970 and led 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 to Bruce Springsteen. They also created music for television, especially the children’s series “Strawberry Shortcake.”
At the end of the forties, Volman returned to school to complete his bachelor’s degree at Loyola Marymount University. He graduated in 1997 and then completed an MFA in 1999. He then began teaching music company courses at the university level, most consistent at Belmont University in Nashville.
Volman was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia 2020, but continued to perform through the early stages of its 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 second Emily Volman, his ex-wife Pat Voman and their daughters Hallie Volman and Sarina Miller and his brother Phil Volman.
