Posted on 09/05/2025 4:50:51 PM PDT by Morgana
The Turtles co-founder Mark Volman has died aged 78.
Guitarist and vocalist Volman passed away on September 5 after a 'brief, unexpected illness' in Nashville, Tennessee, his representative confirmed in a statement to People.
The Turtles were known for hits including Billboard number one single Happy Together in 1967 and Elenore in 1968.
Volman joined The Turtles - then known as the Nightriders and later the Crossfires - in 1963 when he was a student at Westchester High School in California with fellow founding member Howard Kaylan.
While Volman first started out as a saxophonist in the surf music band, he and Kaylan became lead vocalists when the group switched to folk rock.
The founding line-up of The Turtles became Volman, Kaylan, Don Murray, Al Nichol, Jim Tucker and Chuck Portz.
The band's later members were bassists Chip Douglas and Jim Pons, and drummers Joel Larson, Johnny Barbata, and John Seiter.
Their breakthrough single, a cover of Bob Dylan's It Ain't Me Babe was released in 1965 and reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
This was followed by singles Let Me Be and You Baby. Tracks Grim Reaper of Love and Can I Get To Know You Better bombed in the US.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Loved their music back then.
Was he Michelangelo or Raphael?
I went to a few shows of Flo & Eddie ( Volman and Kaylan ) at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach -,always so much fun RIP
Chip douglas joined the turtles and played bass for a few years in mid 60s . Did happy together. Then in 1967 mike nesmith persuaded him to leave the turtles and produce the monkees. He produced pleasant valley sunday.
Elenore is catchy, and the lyrics are hilarious.
(e.g. “Your looks intoxicate me
Even though your folks hate me”)
Greatest opening lines of any '60s song.
I can think of someone I wish I'd said them to, long ago.
As did my self and my wife of 48 years did. I can say we were probably at the sane shows as you.
Aw... Flo, of ‘Flo and Eddie’. RIP
Hey Cool, I saw Capt Beefheart and his magic band at the Golden Bear back in the 80s. We were about 20 ft from the stage. He had the great slide guitarist Deni Walli playing that show. Really memorable and awesome!
I hear the Golden Bear is no longer there, sad to hear that.
Chip Douglas only produced their later stuff which didn’t do too well, IIRC. Don Kirshner was one of the original producers and creators of the Monkees and the TV show.
I expected Howard Kaylan to go first. He’s been having serious health issues lately.
He avoided the ‘expected’ illnesses?
I saw Frank five times. An amazing musician.
L
Chip produced pleasant valley sunday and daydream believer which did well. This was 1967 when they played more of their instruments but still had pros doing the bass and drums.
I regret that I discovered Frank too late to see him in concert.
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