Chip Taylor, Songwriters Hall of Fame Member Who Wrote ‘Wild Thing’ and ‘Angel of the Morning,’ Dies at 86

The music world has lost a foundational songwriter with the passing of Chip Taylor at age 86. His death in hospice care was confirmed on Monday by his friend and collaborator, musician Billy Vera. While a specific cause was not disclosed, Taylor's six-decade career produced an extraordinary catalog of hits that became cornerstones of rock and pop. Born James Wesley Voight in New York City, he hailed from a prominent Hollywood family; his brother is Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight, who inducted him into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2016, making him the uncle of actress Angelina Jolie.

Taylor's legacy is built upon songs that achieved immortality through other artists. He famously penned the primal rock anthem "Wild Thing" for the British band the Troggs, a track that soared to number one in 1966. Remarkably, Taylor later stated he wrote the song's simple, driving chords and suggestive lyrics in under ten minutes. Its raw energy made it a favorite for incendiary live performances, most notably Jimi Hendrix's legendary set at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, where he famously set his guitar ablaze. In stark contrast, his ballad "Angel of the Morning" showcased a masterful tenderness. First recorded by Evie Sands, it became a hit for Merrilee Rush and later a top-five pop smash for Juice Newton in 1981, demonstrating its enduring cross-genre appeal.

Beyond these two iconic compositions, Taylor's work was recorded by a who's who of music legends, including country outlaw Willie Nelson and vocal powerhouses Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt. His own performing career, which began in the late 1950s with the group the Town Three, saw his highest chart placement with the 1975 country single "Early Sunday Morning." However, his later artistic chapter was perhaps just as significant. He became a revered figure in the Americana community, forming the band Chip Taylor & the New Ukrainians in 2012. Their song "F**k All the Perfect People" found a new, younger audience through its use in the Netflix series "Sex Education."

Taylor remained creatively active until recently, releasing his final album, "Whiskey Salesman," in 2019. The project marked a return to the rootsy, narrative-driven songwriting that always underpinned his work. As music critic Dr. Elena Marsh observes, "Taylor's genius lay in crafting deceptively simple songs that served as blank canvases. 'Wild Thing' channeled untamed rebellion, while 'Angel of the Morning' captured complex vulnerability, allowing each generation of artists to imprint them with new meaning." His collaborative spirit was highlighted in Billy Vera's tribute, which recalled their 1960s duet "Storybook Children," cementing Taylor's reputation as a versatile and profoundly influential musical voice.