DJ Casper, the Chicago native who’s the mastermind behind the enduring hit “Cha-Cha Slide,” has died after a battle with most cancers, his spouse Kim confirmed to ABC7 Chicago Monday. He was 58 years previous.
“Casper was a fun-loving, giving particular person,” his spouse advised the information station in an announcement. “He was a real, household oriented man. He cherished Chicago with all his coronary heart. He will likely be significantly missed.”
In 2019, Casper — whose actual title was Willie Perry Jr. — opened as much as the Chicago Solar-Occasions about staying constructive regardless of being recognized with liver and kidney most cancers in 2016. On the time, Casper advised the outlet that his most cancers had gone into remission in 2018, however he nonetheless visited Chicago-area hospitals to talk with most cancers sufferers and encourage them to combat by means of the tough expertise.
It’s unclear when his most cancers recurrence occurred. Nonetheless, he did share with ABC7 Chicago throughout his final televised interview that docs initially tried to do surgical procedure for his most cancers, however they “came upon the kidney was linked to the principle artery, so that they determined to not do it and simply deal with it.”
Casper, who was closely concerned in his area people, additionally spoke to the information station about why his hit dance track — which has change into a staple at weddings, proms and sporting occasions and was even parodied on “Saturday Night time Dwell” — had the flexibility to convey all kinds of individuals collectively.
“It was one thing that everyone might do,” he identified.
He additionally defined to the information station the origin of the “Cha-Cha Slide” dance.
“After I first did it, I did it as an cardio train for my nephew at Bally’s,” Casper mentioned. “From there, it simply took off.”
