Chip Taylor Dies: ‘Wild Thing’ Songwriter & Angelina Jolie’s Uncle Was 86

Chip Taylor, nan singer/songwriter known for hits for illustration ‘Wild Thing’ and ‘Angel of nan Morning’, has died. He was 86.

The Grammy-nominated artist’s children Kris and Kelly announced their father’s decease successful a connection aft Taylor (born James Wesley Voight), who was nan relative of Jon Voight and uncle of Angelina Jolie, reportedly died Monday nighttime successful hospice.

“Hi each – we are sad to show you that Chip passed distant past night,” Kris and Kelly said successful a connection connected his Facebook. “His past days were peaceful. Chip loved nan astonishing blessing it was to link pinch group done euphony and genuinely appreciated this community. He considered you each friends. We will miss him greatly.”

Born March 21, 1940 successful Yonkers, New York, Taylor initially followed successful his begetter Elmer Voight’s master golfing footsteps earlier dropping retired of assemblage and moving backmost to NYC to prosecute a euphony career, signing pinch April Blackwood, which later became EMI and past Sony Music.

Taylor wrote ‘Wild Thing’, which The Troggs recorded successful 1966 and was later inducted into nan Grammy Hall of Fame successful 2019. Jimi Hendrix performed his ain rendition successful 1967, and The Runaways released a screen successful 1976.

Also successful 1967, Evie Sands recorded Taylor’s ‘Angel of nan Morning’, which has since been covered by Dusty Springfield, Olivia Newton-John, Shaggy and more.

He besides wrote songs for nan likes of Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Linda Ronstadt and Tina Turner.

As a performer, Taylor released galore solo and group albums pinch various bands since 1971, launching his ain independent explanation Train Wreck Records successful 2007.

Taylor is survived by his children Kristian and Kelly, arsenic good arsenic 5 grandchildren, pinch whom he recorded nan 2011 opus ‘Kids to Save nan Planet’. His woman of much than 60 years, Joan Carole Frey, died past year.

In lieu of flowers, nan family requests donations beryllium made to nan Metropolitan Golf Association Caddie Scholarship Fund.