Introduction

The Turtles are an American rock band from Los Angeles best known for their hit single “Happy Together.” The group is composed of two members, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The Turtles formed in 1965 and disbanded in 1970. Throughout the group’s five-year career, they released four studio albums and had a number of singles that charted in the Top 40.

Early Years

The Turtles began as a folk-rock group called the Nightriders in 1965. The original lineup consisted of Howard Kaylan (vocals) and Mark Volman (guitar), as well as Al Nichol (lead guitar), Don Murray (drums), and Jim Tucker (bass). After cutting a few singles with no success, they changed their name to the Turtles in 1966.

Rise to Fame

The Turtles found success with their cover of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe” in 1965. This track reached number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. A year later, they released their most famous song, “Happy Together.” This song reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and remains one of the most recognizable songs of the 1960s. The band continued to have success throughout 1967-1968 with songs like “She’d Rather Be With Me” (#3) and “Elenore” (#6).

Later Years

In 1968, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman left the Turtles to form a new group called Flo & Eddie with producer Frank Zappa. Despite changing members, the band continued to make music until 1970 when they officially disbanded.

Legacy

The Turtles left an indelible mark on music history with hit singles like “Happy Together” that remain popular today. They were part of the wave of folk-rock bands that emerged in the late 1960s and helped define this genre. Their music has been featured in popular films such as Forrest Gump and TV shows such as Friends.