The man who gave the world one of rock’s most unforgettable anthems has taken his final bow.
Chip Taylor — the songwriter behind the gritty 1966 smash “Wild Thing” and uncle to Hollywood icon Angelina Jolie — has died at 86. The legendary hitmaker passed away in hospice care on Monday, just days after celebrating his birthday, according to his close friend and Grammy-winning producer Billy Vera.
“RIP: Chip Taylor, my friend and songwriting mentor,” Vera shared in a heartfelt tribute.
Born James Wesley Voight in Yonkers, New York, Taylor came from a famous family — he was the brother of actor Jon Voight — but carved out a towering legacy entirely his own.
His breakthrough came fast and loud.
When Taylor penned “Wild Thing” in the mid-1960s, he had no idea it would explode into a cultural phenomenon. Recorded by The Troggs, the raw, rebellious track shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966 and helped ignite the garage rock movement.
And the song? It came together in a flash.
“I hung up and started banging on the guitar and ‘Wild Thing’ just flew out of me,” Taylor once recalled, describing the spontaneous moment that turned into rock history. Inspired by the energy of New York City and the people passing by his window, the song captured lightning in a bottle.
But Taylor wasn’t a one-hit wonder — not even close.
He went on to write “Angel of the Morning,” made famous by Merrilee Rush, along with songs performed by icons like Willie Nelson, Janis Joplin, Cliff Richard, and The Hollies.
Tributes have been pouring in, with fans and fellow musicians remembering not just his hits — but his storytelling.
“He could spin a story just as well as he could write a song,” one fellow artist recalled, pointing to Taylor’s legendary live performances filled with humor, heart, and unforgettable tales.
Beyond songwriting, Taylor stepped into the spotlight himself, releasing albums throughout the 1970s and later launching his own label, Train Wreck Records, in 2007. His 2009 album Yonkers NY offered a deeply personal look at his roots — and the city that shaped him.
Despite decades in the industry, Taylor never lost his edge — or his quirks. Offstage, friends say he had a near-professional love for blackjack, playing with the same intensity he brought to music.
In 2016, his lifelong impact was cemented with an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame — a fitting honor for a man whose lyrics defined a generation.
Taylor is survived by his children and grandchildren. His wife, Joan Carole Frey, whom he married in 1964, passed away in 2025.
But his music? That’s forever.
And somewhere, that iconic riff still echoes.