Chip Taylor, Songwriters Hall of Fame Member Who Wrote 'Wild Thing' and 'Angel of the Morning,' Dies at 86
Chip Taylor, Songwriters Hall of Fame Member Who Wrote 'Wild Thing' and 'Angel of the Morning,' Dies at 86
Ilana KaplanWed, March 25, 2026 at 6:26 PM UTC
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Chip Taylor in Los Angeles in August 2013Credit: Rebecca Sapp/WireImage -
"Wild Thing" and "Angel of the Morning" songwriter Chip Taylor died at the age of 86
His death, which occurred on Monday, March 23, was announced by the record label he founded, Train Wreck Records
According to his friend and songwriting mentee Bill Vera, he died "in hospice"
Chip Taylor, the songwriter behind hits "Wild Thing" and "Angel of the Morning," has died. He was 86.
The death of Taylor, who was born James Wesley Voight, was confirmed by Train Wreck Records, which he founded in 1997.
According to the label's website, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter died on Monday, March 23.
Chip Taylor in October 2006 in San FranciscoCredit: Anthony Pidgeon/Redferns
Per a statement on the site, Taylor's "storied career and contributions to the music industry have left an indelible mark on many generations of musicians and fans."
While no cause of death was revealed, his friend and songwriting mentee Billy Vera shared a Facebook tribute honoring the late musician Tuesday, March 24 and noted that he had died "in hospice."
Chip TaylorCredit: Stephen Lovekin/Variety/Penske Media via Getty
"With great sadness I must announce the passing of my old friend and songwriting mentor, Chip Taylor last night in hospice," Vera, 81, began the post. "He and I and I wrote some good ones: "Make Me Belong to You," (Barbara Lewis, Fats Domino); "Storybook Children" (BV & Judy Clay, Nancy Sinatra, & Lee Hazelwood, Don Williams): "Papa Come Quick (Bonnie Raitt); Theme to the sitcom Roomies; "La La For What's Her Name;" "The Bible Salesman," "Reaching for the Moon."Taylor, whose brother is Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight, was born in 1940 in Yonkers, N.Y. While he initially followed in his father's footsteps, moving to South Carolina to play college golf, he ended up leaving school, returning to New York to pursue a career in music and adapting the stage name "Chip Taylor."
Taylor ended up in a lifelong songwriting partnership with April Blackwood / EMI / Sony Music. He notably wrote "Wild Thing," which was popularized by the Troggs in 1966 and covered by Jimi Hendrix in 1967, and "Angel of the Morning," which was performed by Merrilee Rush in 1968 and Juice Newton in 1981.
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According to Train Wreck Records site, Taylor was known for writing "songs that captured the emotion and spirit of the times."
Chip Taylor in March 2018 in New York CityCredit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Throughout his six-decade-long career, he worked with several artists, including Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Linda Ronstadt, Shaggy, and Tina Turner. Additionally, his music was featured in films like Patrick Wang’s In the Family, and in TV shows, including Netflix hit Sex Education.
He also released his own albums, including 1973's Last Chance and 2009's Yonkers, NY, the latter of which earned a Grammy nomination.
Per the Train Wreck Records website, Taylor Chip "recorded his first song, 'Little Joan,' for his middle school sweetheart, Joan Carol Frey, who became his wife and the great love of his life" at the age of 16.
Chip Taylor in 1960 in N.Y.C.Credit: PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
The couple raised two children, Kristian and Kelly, and had five grandkids.
Taylor was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2016, where he where he performed "Wild Thing" with his grandchildren.
PEOPLE has reached out to Train Wreck Records for additional comment.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
