The man who wrote the soundtrack is gone
Chip Taylor, the guy whose brain birthed two of the most iconic songs of the 20th century, has died. He was 86 years old. His label, Train Wreck Records, confirmed the news. The songwriter, whose real name was James Wesley Voight (yes, brother of Jon Voight and uncle of Angelina Jolie), died on Monday.
They did not provide medical details, but his friend and collaborator Billy Vera said online that Taylor was receiving palliative care. Vera called him her mentor and recalled songs they did together.
Two songs, a thousand versions
His legacy is summarized in two titles: “Wild Thing” and “Angel of the Morning”. The first was made famous by The Troggs in ’66 and Jimi Hendrix electrified it in ’67. The second is that melancholic anthem that Merrilee Rush recorded in ’68 and Juice Newton resurrected in the ’80s.
“The author distinguished himself by creating songs capable of reflecting the emotion and pulse of his time,” says his record label.
That’s underestimating it. He wrote the soundtrack to falling in love, falling out of love, and breaking things. His music was covered by artists of all genres, from rock to country.
The reaction of the musical world was immediate. Artists of several generations are sharing their sorrow. Because even if you didn’t know his name, you probably hummed his songs. That’s the magic of a good composer: being invisible but omnipresent.
A piece of history is gone. A guy who understood that a good song is a benign virus that is transmitted from generation to generation. Rest in peace, Chip.
