Overview

• Volman died Sept. 5 in Nashville following what his publicist described as a brief, unexpected illness, confirming his age as 78.
• Family and close associates told People his final decline involved a blood disease marked by a falling white blood cell count, while official statements have not specified a single confirmed cause.
• Diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2020 and disclosing it publicly in 2023, he continued performing on the Happy Together tours until a sudden health downturn in May 2025.
• He co-founded The Turtles with Howard Kaylan, scored a No. 1 with 'Happy Together,' later performed as Flo & Eddie with Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention, and contributed vocals to hits by artists including T. Rex and Bruce Springsteen.
• An advocate for musicians’ rights who pursued landmark actions on sampling and pre-1972 recordings, he also taught at Belmont University, published a 2023 memoir, and is survived by partner Emily Volman, ex-wife Pat, daughters Hallie and Sarina, and brother Phil.