Chip Taylor Dead at 86: The Man Behind ‘Wild Thing’ and ‘Angel of the Morning’

Chip Taylor, the songwriter whose raw, three-chord genius gave rock and roll two of its most enduring anthems, passed away at 86. His death marks the end of an era that shaped popular music across six decades.

Who Was Chip Taylor?

Born James Wesley Voight in 1940 — yes, actor Jon Voight’s brother — Chip Taylor built a career that most songwriters only dream about. He didn’t chase fame. He chased feeling.

That instinct produced songs that outlasted trends, formats, and entire music genres. Like how Taylor Swift bridged country and pop, Taylor crossed genre lines effortlessly, writing for rock, country, and soul artists alike.

The Songs That Defined a Legacy

Chip Taylor wrote two songs that are essentially cultural monuments.

“Wild Thing” — recorded by The Troggs in 1966 — hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the most covered rock songs ever. Jimi Hendrix turned it into a Woodstock legend.

“Angel of the Morning” told a different story. Merrilee Rush’s 1968 version reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Juice Newton’s 1981 revival hit #4. The song just wouldn’t fade away.

Why Chip Taylor’s Death Hits Different

Here’s the thing — most songwriters get forgotten. Their artists get the credit, the tours, the documentaries. Not Taylor. He became a celebrated figure in his own right, releasing solo albums through the 1970s and staging a full country-folk comeback in the 1990s.

The real question is: how many songwriters can claim two songs that each spanned multiple generations of hits? Almost none. Like taylor frankie paul navigating public attention with quiet dignity, Taylor let his music do the talking — always.

His passing leaves a silence that no cover version can fill.

FAQ

Q: When did he pass away?

Chip Taylor passed away in March 2026 at the age of 86, as confirmed by industry reports (as reported by OpenAI Blog).

Q: What is his most famous song?

“Wild Thing,” recorded by The Troggs in 1966, is widely considered his signature work, though “Angel of the Morning” rivals it in cultural impact.

Q: Was he related to any famous actors?

Yes — he was the brother of Hollywood actor Jon Voight, though the two pursued very different creative paths.

Q: Did he perform his own music?

Absolutely. Beyond songwriting, he released solo records and had an active performing career well into his later years.