The Turtles co-founder Mark Volman has died aged 78.

Representatives for Volman, who was guitarist and vocalist for the band, confirmed he passed away on September 5, following a “brief, unexpected illness” in Nashville, Tennessee.

The band was known of hits including Billboard number one single Happy Together in 1967 and Elenore in 1968.

Volman joined The Turtles in high school in 1963, when he was a student at Westchester High School, alongside fellow band member, Howard Kaylan.

The band started in surf music but switched to folk rock.

The Turtles’ original line-up was Volman, Kaylan, Don Murray, Al Nichol, Jim Tucker and Chuck Portz.

Later band members were bassists Chip Douglas and Jim Pons, and drummers Joel Larson, Johnny Barbata, and John Seiter.

The band found success early

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