The music industry is mourning the loss of Chip Taylor—the prolific songwriter behind the classic hit “Wild Thing”—who has passed away at the age of 86.News of his passing was first shared on March 24 by Billy Vera, a close friend and fellow artist. Vera posted a touching tribute on social media, noting that his friend and mentor had passed away in hospice care, accompanied by a photograph of the two musicians together.Shortly after Vera’s announcement, Taylor’s children, Kris and Kelly, issued a heartfelt statement confirming the news. They shared that their father’s final days were peaceful and emphasized how much he cherished the ability to connect with others through his music.

The family noted that he viewed his community of listeners not merely as fans, but as genuine friends, and expressed that he would be profoundly missed.Born James Wesley Voight in 1940, Taylor was part of a distinguished family with deep ties to science and the arts. He was the younger brother of geologist Barry Voight and Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight. This lineage also made him the uncle of actress Angelina Jolie and her brother, James Haven.Taylor’s career in music began in the late 1950s. He originally performed with the group Town Three and released recordings under the name Wes Voight. Eventually, he took on the professional name Chip Taylor and discovered his primary talent was in songwriting, creating tracks that would leave an indelible mark on popular culture.