Chip Taylor
Biography & Photos
Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter, Chip Taylor is a Renaissance man whose determination and dedication have permeated all facets of his life.
"Wherever he's from, this boy's got country heart." -- Chet Atkins
Born in 1944 and raised in Yonkers, New York, Chip (a.k.a. James Wesley Voight) began his love affair with music early in life. At the ripe old age of eight, he convinced his parents to let him stay up late to hear a country radio station whose signal emanated from West Virginia. His penchant for the country genre found an outlet in Chip's high school band, "Town and Country Brothers" (King Records). After the band broke up, Chip tried his hand as a professional golfer. He met with some success but was soon sidelined with a wrist injury. It was then that he decided to give music his full attention. Subsequently, he signed a contract with Warner Brothers Records in 1961 and had his first top 100 hit single, "Here I Am".
"As a writer, Chip has quite a gift." -- Randy Travis
Soon after, Chet Atkins heard a few of Chip's country songs
and said it was hard to believe that he was born and raised in New York. Chet
started recording several C.T. compositions with artists he was producing and
Chip had his first big hit as a country songwriter with Bobby Bare's version
of
"Just A Little Bit Later On Down The Line".
"Chip Taylor wrote the yin and yang of American pop classics." -- Vin Scelsa, WNEW
In the mid 60's, Chip signed a staff writers contract with
CBS' Blackwood Music. He started combining his country feel with R&B (his
other musical love) to write songs that, to this day, remain a staple in the
American music diet. His ability to write in varied voices and styles is demonstrated
in two of his best known songs, "Wild Thing" and "Angel of The
Morning". The ubiquitous, "Wild Thing", (Jimi Hendrix, The Troggs,
X) with its guitar driven, sexually charged theme is in direct contrast to the
hauntingly romantic, "Angel Of The Morning", (Merilee Rush, Juice
Newton, Chrissie Hynde)*. Other Chip Taylor songs that are ingrained in American
music are "Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)"' a performance favorite
of Janis Joplin,"I Can't Let Go"' (The Hollies, LindaRonstadt) and
" Country Girl, City Man"' (Ike and Tina Turner).
Additionally, along with producing partner, Al Gorgoni, he discovered and produced
James Taylor(James Taylor and The Flying Machine), and Evie Sands (her version
of "Any Way That You Want Me" became a big hit in 1968). They also
produced Neil Diamond's "Brooklyn Roads".
*On peut ajouter les reprises de Billie Davis, P.P. Arnold,
Skeeter Davis, et même une version reggae par Joya Landis... merçi
Vincent Palmer Rock 'n Folk
"Taylor's voice offers a wonderful mix of city smarts with a touch of
twang and warmth."
--Rob Bleetstein, Gavin Americana
He realeased six solo albums in the 70's and 80's, including Chip Taylor's Last
Chance. Rolling Stone acclaimed this work as one of the best country albums
of 1973. This album was one of the forerunners of the renegade cowboy movement
containing several hit songs. One such song, "The Coalfields of Schickshinny",
commemorates the lives of Chip's grandparents, refugees who had worked the hard
coal mines of Eastern Pennsylvania at the turn of the century.
His family has played an important part of his songwriting process. He has written
several songs for them throughout the years including Anne Murray's version
of "Son Of A Rotten Gambler", a song written for his son, Kristian,
that went to the top of the country charts. The song is particularly poignant
as it speaks of his other great talent -- gambling -- that he explored extensively
during a break from his recording career in the early 80's.
As a professional gambler, he was one of the foremost thoroughbred horse race
handicappers on the East Coast. When Chip turned his sights on the gaming tables,
he quickly gained notoriety with his black jack prowess; finishing third in
the World Black Jack Championship in Las Vegas. Taylor became one of the most
feared card counters in the land and was ulimately banned from every casino
in Atlantic City. In the late 80's, along with friend, partner, and renowned
handicapper, Ernest Dahlman, he garnered
enormous winnings through his horse racing exploits, specifically in the form
of massive pick six scores (wagers where often times you get paid enormous sums
for picking six winners in a row). These windfalls are known throughout the
gambling world and well documented by the I.R.S..
"Chip left the music business for a while as a songwriter,
and came back as an Artist. These songs are poetry, absolutely beautiful."--
Dennis Wholey, host of the PBS Program, America
In 1993, Chip agreed to go on a national songwriters tour
with Midge Ure, Darden Smith, Rosie Flores and Don Henry. As a direct result,
his creative juices started to flow again. Bonnie Raitt recorded his "Poppa
Come Quick" on herLuck of the Draw album and several other artists started
recording
his new material. Taylor released his retrospective collection, Hit Man (Gadfly
Records), containing his versions of thirteen of his most successfull songs.
He is now concentrating on making music again, with a commitment he hasn't felt
since The Town and Country Brothers days.
"Now here's something...something about life and love, something about what it feels like to be human from the inside out."-- Kimmie Rhodes, singer/songwriter
"The Living Room Tapes is a quiet, understated, heartfelt masterpiece... the steady hand of a song craftsman returning to the fold..."--Tom Russell, singer/songwriter
In 1997, The Living Room Tapes, was released. Presented
with an autobiographical honesty, it is an intimate look at Taylor's life and
relationships as well as a welcome return of an incredible talent.
"I don't know what's come over me, but I'm sure of one thing -- whatever
it is, it ain't leavin! From now on, I'll be doing one thing -- playing my music
for whoever wants to listen." -- Chip Taylor
Chip's album, Seven Days In May (released April 1999 in the US), is a love story
about meeting a pregnant woman named Florence at a swanky New York City bar.
The CD tells the story of their seven days together--from spying her at the
Pravda Bar to meeting the father of her baby. The album includes two duets with
grammy winner Lucinda Williams (Through Their Mother's Eyes & If I Don't
Know Love") and one duet with legendary Guy Clark.
"Wrist-slashing stuff for the unwary...album of
the year for me." John Tobler, Folk Roots
"Chip is able to show his emotions so openly and spontaneously...he is
in a class by himself!"
Lucinda Williams
