Remembering Chip Taylor: The Songwriter of ‘Wild Thing’ and ‘Angel of the Morning’ Passes Away at 86
Chip Taylor, Renowned Songwriter, Passes Away at 86
Chip Taylor, the celebrated songwriter behind iconic hits such as “Wild Thing” and “Angel of the Morning,” has died at the age of 86, as confirmed by his record label, Train Wreck Records, on March 24.
The cause of death has not been disclosed.
“Known for songs that captured the emotion and spirit of the times, Chip created a catalog over a six-decade career that included works for a diverse range of artists including Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Linda Ronstadt, Shaggy, and Tina Turner,” his obituary from Train Wreck Records stated.
Born James Wesley Voight in Yonkers, New York, in 1940, Taylor was the youngest of three sons, including actor Jon Voight. Initially following in the footsteps of his professional golfer father, Elmer, Taylor played golf in college in South Carolina before returning to New York to pursue a career as a singer-songwriter, adopting the stage name Chip Taylor.
Taylor’s rise to fame began with “Wild Thing,” which reached the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 three times: first as a No. 1 hit in 1966 by The Troggs, then as a comedy recording by Senator Bobby featuring Bill Minkin (No. 20 in 1967), and later by Fancy (No. 14 in 1974). The song was also famously covered by the Jimi Hendrix Experience at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
Another significant success was “Angel of the Morning,” which became a top 10 hit on the Hot 100 twice by different artists: first by Merrilee Rush & The Turnabouts (No. 7 in 1968) and later by Juice Newton (No. 4 in 1981). The song also saw success on the Hot Country Songs chart, with versions by Connie (No. 34 in 1970) and Newton (No. 22 in 1981).
Furthermore, “Angel of the Morning” was interpolated in Shaggy’s 2001 No. 1 Hot 100 hit “Angel,” featuring Rayvon.
In 2016, Taylor was honored with an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Reflecting on his songwriting process during an interview with Billboard, he remarked, “I knew right then when I was writing ‘Wild Thing,’ just like with ‘Angel of the Morning’ and the interlude, that I wanted to reflect…The silence in ‘Wild Thing’ is the most important thing.”
Throughout his lifetime, Taylor was a prolific performer, releasing more than 30 albums from 1971 until last year.
He is survived by his wife, Joan Voight, who passed away in June 2022, their two children, Kristian and Kelly, and five grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Metropolitan Golf Association Caddie Scholarship Fund, a charity that was important to Taylor and his father.
