Most people know the Voight family by two names: Oscar-winning actress Jon Voight and his equally famous daughter, Angelina Jolie. But there was another Voight who quietly shaped American culture in ways few celebrity fans had seen — and he did it under a completely different name.
Chip Taylorwho was born James Wesley VoightThe songwriter behind the popular rock hit “Wild Thing,” died Monday, March 23, while in hospice care. He was 86 years old. His daughters, Kelly and Kristian, confirmed his death.
“His final days were peaceful. Chip loved the wonderful blessing of connecting with people through music and truly valued this community. He considered you all friends. We will miss him dearly,” his daughters wrote on Facebook.
Chip Taylor’s family was unlike any other
The Voight family may be one of the most famously talented families in American public life – and not just because of Hollywood.
He was born on March 21, 1940, to Elmer no Barbara VoightChip was one of three brothers. His brother Jon became an Oscar-winning actor and father to Jolie, who also won an Oscar.
Another brother, Barry Voighttook a completely different path, becoming a geologist who invented a method of predicting volcanic eruptions.
Even their father, Elmer Voighthe had his own claim to fame – he was a golfer who played in the US Open in 1928 and 1929 and later served as a player on the national team.
Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame
Getty ImagesActor, rock songwriter, volcanologist, and professional golfer — all from the same family in Yonkers.
“All three of us were very close in age, and we did all these things growing up,” Taylor told NPR in 2010. “Our mom and dad were very supportive of us being crazy, so we had great days together.”
Chip Taylor’s Legendary Music Career
While his brother Jon built a career in the virtual world under the Voight name, Chip chose to leave it entirely.
Using the stage name Chip Taylor, he made his own in the music world – a world away from the red carpets of Hollywood.
His love for music started early. He was writing songs in the Brill Building when he was a high school student. In 1957, he and his band, Wes Voight & the Town and Country Brothers, were signed by King Records.
By 1962, he had moved to Warner Bros. Records and charted on the Hot 100 with “Here I Am.”
But his biggest mark came as a songwriter for others. “Wild Things,” written in 1965, was taken to No. 1 by the Troggs in July 1966.
“Angel of the Morning,” originally recorded by Evie Sands in 1967, it went on to become a huge hit in many versions – Merrilee Rush‘s recording reached No. 7 on the Hot 100 in 1968, too Newton juiceThe 1981 version sold over a million copies and reached number 4.
He also co-wrote “Try (Little Little Little Little)” with him Jerry Ragavoywhich Janis Joplin was recorded in 1969 as the first single from his first album, “He Sits at Your Table,” recorded by Willie Nelson.
Chip Taylor Left Music – But Came Back Years Later
Taylor recorded nearly a dozen albums over a period of sixteen years.
After releasing seven solo albums in the 1970s, he left music entirely in 1981, turning to full-time gambling – something he pursued until 1995.
He returned to music that year and eventually launched his own independent label, Train Wreck Records, in 2007.
He released a children’s album, Golden Rules for Childrenin 2011, accompanied by his grandchildren. In 2016, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Hollywood mourns the death of its famous stars in 2026. The year began with the death of Broadway actor and promoter Bret Hanna-Shuford at the age of 46. At the end of the month, comedy star Catherine O’Hara died at the age of 71. Thank you! You have successfully registered. Sign up for newsletters Enter your email […]
“I was kind of an organic producer. I was always fighting for emotions. That’s what I was best at,” he said in a 2006 interview.
Taylor was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2023, which she documented on her album Behind the Sky, released in February 2024.
He is survived by his wife Joan – whom he married, divorced and remarried – two daughters, two brothers and five grandchildren.
