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Chip Taylor, Singer-Songwriter Who Wrote 'Wild Thing,' Dies at 86

Chip Taylor, inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2016, wrote hits covered by artists like Jimi Hendrix and Juice Newton, influencing multiple music genres.

  • Chip Taylor, the Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee best known for writing "Wild Thing" and "Angel of the Morning," died Monday at age 86, according to his friend Billy Vera.
  • Born James Wesley Voight in Yonkers, New York, Taylor was the younger brother of actor Jon Voight and uncle to Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie.
  • The Troggs' 1966 recording of "Wild Thing" topped the Billboard Hot 100, while Taylor's compositions appeared on soundtracks for 200 films and TV shows, including "Deadpool & Wolverine" and Netflix's "Sex Education."
  • Survivors include his brothers Jon and Barry Voight, children Kelly and Kristian, and his wife Joan; the family requests donations to the Metropolitan Golf Association Caddie Scholarship Fund in lieu of flowers.
  • Prolific into his final years, Taylor released the album "Words From Holy Gardens" in February 2026, having chronicled his battle with throat cancer in his 2024 album "Behind The Sky.
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Chip Taylor, ‘Wild Thing’ songwriter, dead at 86

Chip Taylor, the songwriter behind the Troggs’ rock hit “Wild Thing” and actor Angelina Jolie’s uncle, has died. He was 86.

·Nebraska, United States
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TMZ broke the news in Los Angeles, United States on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
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