Music
25 Mar 26

Chip Taylor passes away aged 86

Chip Taylor at Hill Country Live in NYC Credit:

Chip Taylor was the songwriter behind ‘Wild Thing’ and ‘Angel Of The Morning’.

Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Chip Taylor has passed away aged 86. His record label, Train Wreck Records, announced the news on Tuesday, March 24.

Born James Wesley Voight in Yonkers, New York, on March 21, 1940, Taylor was the youngest of three sons, including his older brother, Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight.

Before pursuing music, Taylor tried to follow in his professional golfer father, Elmer Voight's, footsteps, moving to South Carolina to play college golf. However, after a few months, he dropped out of college and moved back to New York.

Back in New York, Taylor adopted his stage name and became a singer-songwriter.

In 2016, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, where he performed his track ‘Wild Thing’ with his granddaughters Kate, Samantha and Riley, who feature in his 2011 children's album Golden Kids Rules.

Taylor was a prolific Grammy-nominated songwriter and performer, releasing over 30 albums in his lifetime, starting in 1971 with his debut album Gasoline. His latest release, Words From Holy Gardens, was released last month and features songs inspired by his late wife Joan, who passed away last June.

"Known for songs that captured the emotion and spirit of the times, Chip created a catalogue 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," wrote Train Wreck Records.

His music was also showcased in films, such as Patrick Wang's In the Family, and on television, featuring in Netflix's Sex Education.

Taylor and his wife, Joan, are survived by their two children, Kristian and Kelly, and five grandchildren.

The family have requested that, instead of flowers, donations be made to the Metropolitan Golf Association Caddie Scholarship Fund, a charity that was important to Taylor and his father.

Elsewhere, many have taken to social media to pay tribute to the late songwriter.

"Devastated to hear that Chip Taylor has passed," wrote Northern Irish TV and radio presenter Ralph McLean. "He was an amazing songwriter cut from the very finest cloth.

"Chip was a good friend, a great lover of Ireland and most importantly a special human being.

"He was always kind, decent and excellent company. When I last spoke to him for the radio his voice was frail and I knew he was very sick but he wanted to do it and once again he was incredible. Honest, sweet and real to the last. It’s telling that the first thing he said to me that day was ‘How’s the family Ralph?’ That was Chip. Always kind and always there for you. "