Songwriting legend Chip Taylor dies aged 86

Chip Taylor, the influential American songwriter and performer who penned some of rock and pop’s most enduring classics, died on Monday.

He was eighty-six years old. Taylor, born James Wesley Voight, passed away peacefully while in hospice care, according to a statement released by his children, Kristian and Kelly.

The news marks the end of a career that spanned over six decades and touched nearly every corner of the music industry.

Born on 21 March 1940 in Yonkers, New York, Taylor was part of a notable family, as the younger brother of the Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight and the uncle of the actress Angelina Jolie.

Although he initially pursued a career as a professional golfer, a wrist injury led him back to his true passion: music. He rose to prominence in the mid-1960s with "Wild Thing," a track that became a global phenomenon when recorded by The Troggs in 1966.

The song’s raw simplicity secured its place in history, leading to its induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2019.

Taylor’s ability to traverse genres was further demonstrated by the 1967 ballad "Angel of the Morning," a song that achieved chart success across multiple decades with covers by Merrilee Rush, Juice Newton, and Shaggy.

Throughout his career, his compositions were recorded by icons such as Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, and Janis Joplin.

In his later years, Taylor remained a prolific recording artist on his own Train Wreck Records label, releasing his final album, "The Truth and Other Things," in 2025.

He is survived by his two children and five grandchildren, who joined him in his philanthropic efforts for environmental causes.