The Turtles co-founder Mark Volman dies at 78 after illness

The Turtles co-founder Mark Volman , known for singing on the No. 1 Billboard hit “Happy Together,” has died at 78 following a brief but unexpected illness .

The vocalist and guitarist, whose 1960s pop group rose to fame with songs like “It Was a Very Good Year” and “Elenore,” died on Friday in Nashville, Tenn., his rep confirmed to People.

While the exact illness he was battling was not made clear, the Los Angeles native told the outlet in 2023 that he’d been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia three years earlier.

The disease, caused by an abnormal buildup of proteins in the brain, is a “ complex and challenging brain disorder ” that can include symptoms such as hallucinations, loss of coordination and cognitive fluctuations, according to the National Institutes on Health.

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