Two days following his 89th trip around the sun, acclaimed songwriter – whose work includes the era-defining hit ‘Wild Thing,’ by The Troggs – Chip Taylor passed away on Monday (3.23.26.).
Taking to social with the caption “RIP: Chip Taylor, my friend and songwriting mentor, last night in hospice,” Taylor’s longtime friend Billy Vera, posted a tribute on Instagram alongside a photo of the pair on the red carpet, where he described Chip as both a close friend as well as mentor, and confirming that he died while receiving hospice care.
Lasting decades and canvassing genres, the native New Yorker’s his best-known compositions include ‘Angel of the Morning’, originally recorded by Evie Sands before becoming a massive hit for Juice Newton in the 1980s that later inspired Shaggy’s 2000 chart-topper ‘Angel.’ Taylor’s catalogue also includes Willie Nelson’s ‘He Sits at Your Table,’ ‘I Can’t Let Go’ recorded by Evie Sands, the Hollies and Linda Ronstadt.
In addition to writing songs for other musicians, Chip released his own material beginning with his 1962 debut ‘Here I Am. He’ and later founded Train Wreck Records, a label that championed folk, country and Americana artists.
Born James Wesley Voight, Taylor was the younger brother of actor Jon Voight and uncle to Angelina Jolie and James Haven.
Spending his later years living quietly in New York City with his wife Joan Carole Frey, who died in 2025, Chip Taylor is survived by his children, James and Kelly, and three grandchildren — Riley, Samantha and Kate.
At press time, no cause of death has been disclosed.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Sachyn Mital