American singer and songwriter James Wesley Voight, known professionally as Chip Taylor, passed away on Monday at the age of 86. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
While Taylor achieved some success with his own song, The Same Old Story, he is most celebrated for his songwriting contributions to others, becoming a highly influential figure in the 1960s and 70s music scene.
He penned hits such as Angel of the Morning and Wild Thing. Angel of the Morning became a major hit in 1966 with The Troggs and gained further notoriety when Jimi Hendrix famously set his guitar ablaze after performing Wild Thing at the Monterey Pop Festival.
A Legacy in Songwriting
In 2016, James Voight was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to songs that have become enduring classics. His operate extended to numerous renowned artists, including Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash, and Frank Sinatra.
Throughout his career, Taylor released numerous albums and received Grammy Award nominations for Last Chance and Yonkers NY. His final album, Words from holy gardens, was released in February of this year.
From Golf to ‘Chip’
Born in New York in 1940, James Wesley Voight came from a family with notable figures. His father was a professional golfer, and his brother is actor Jon Voight, father of actress Angelina Jolie.
James himself was a skilled golfer, winning the New York youth championship at age 14. He briefly pursued a university golf career before returning to New York to pursue a career in music.
In a 2019 interview, Taylor explained that his stage name originated from his golfing days. “My nickname in golf was Chip, so I tried that with a couple of last names. I don’t even remember why Taylor came up, but suddenly I was Chip Taylor.”
A Calculated Risk
Taylor also had a period as a professional gambler in the 1990s, stepping away from music to pursue this venture.
He was successful at horse race betting and card counting in blackjack, reportedly earning significant income. However, his skills led to him being banned from several casinos, as card counting, while not illegal, is discouraged by casinos.
He later returned to music and founded his own record label, Train Wreck Records, releasing further albums through it.
Chip Taylor passed away in a hospice, two days after his 86th birthday.
