Chip Taylor, the singer/songwriter known for hits like ‘Wild Thing’ and ‘Angel of the Morning’, has died. He was 86.
The Grammy-nominated artist’s children Kris and Kelly announced their father’s death in a statement after Taylor (born James Wesley Voight), who was the brother of Jon Voight and uncle of Angelina Jolie, reportedly died Monday night in hospice.
“Hi all – we are sad to tell you that Chip passed away last night,” Kris and Kelly said in a statement on his Facebook. “His last days were peaceful. Chip loved the amazing blessing it was to connect with people through music and truly appreciated this community. He considered you all friends. We will miss him greatly.”
Born March 21, 1940 in Yonkers, New York, Taylor initially followed in his father Elmer Voight’s professional golfing footsteps before dropping out of college and moving back to NYC to pursue a music career, signing with April Blackwood, which later became EMI and then Sony Music.
Taylor wrote ‘Wild Thing’, which The Troggs recorded in 1966 and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2019. Jimi Hendrix performed his own rendition in 1967, and The Runaways released a cover in 1976.
Also in 1967, Evie Sands recorded Taylor’s ‘Angel of the Morning’, which has since been covered by Dusty Springfield, Olivia Newton-John, Shaggy and more.
He also wrote songs for the likes of Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Linda Ronstadt and Tina Turner.
As a performer, Taylor released numerous solo and group albums with various bands since 1971, launching his own independent label Train Wreck Records in 2007.
Taylor is survived by his children Kristian and Kelly, as well as five grandchildren, with whom he recorded the 2011 song ‘Kids to Save the Planet’. His wife of more than 60 years, Joan Carole Frey, died last year.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Metropolitan Golf Association Caddie Scholarship Fund.
