Chip Taylor
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Chip Taylor (b. 1940) is the stage name of American songwriter James Wesley Voight noted for writing the song, Wild Thing. Taylor is the younger brother of actor Jon Voight, and uncle of Angelina Jolie and James Haven.
[edit] Music career
Taylor began his professional career as a golf pro, but was not successful. Taylor then became a musical performer, but his primary success has come from songwriting, both alone and with other songwriters. Taylor's songwriting partners have included Al Gorgoni, Billy Vera, Ted Daryll, and Jerry Ragavoy.
Taylor's best known songs are Wild Thing, originally written for the English band, The Troggs, and Angel of the Morning, a hit for Merrilee Rush in 1968 then in 1981 for country-pop singer Juice Newton. Other Taylor compositions that made entries onto the pop charts include, I Can't Let Go (performed by The Hollies), Make Me Belong to You, I Can Make It With You (Jackie De Shannon), Any Way You Want Me (The Troggs), Step Out of Your Mind, Country Girl City Man, I'll Hold Out My Hand, and Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) (Janis Joplin). Country hits written by Taylor include Sweet Dream Woman (Waylon Jennings), and Son of a Rotten Gambler (Emmylou Harris, the Hollies and Anne Murray).
Taylor released recordings on Warner Brothers, Columbia, and Capitol records, and his most popular recording is his, Last Chance released through Warner Brothers. In the 1980 Taylor gave up the music business for a career as a professional gambler. 1980 also saw Taylor making a screen acting appearance in the film, Melvin and Howard.
[edit] Taylor today
Taylor restarted his performing and recording career in 1993. At a South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas, Chip met singer and violinist, Carrie Rodriguez with whom he currently performs and records. The duo performs Americana music.
