DJ Casper, the man behind the creation of the “Cha-Cha Slide” global phenomenon, passed away at the age of 58. Casper, whose real name was Willie Perry Jr, had been battling kidney and liver cancer since 2016.
His death was announced by his wife, Kim, who told ABC News that Casper had passed as he was surrounded by his loved ones on Aug. 7, 2023.
The Chicago native was born on May 31, 1965, and became one of the city’s treasures after developing the “Cha-Cha Slide” dance and song in the early 2000s. It quickly gained immense popularity, especially in dance and party settings. In his last media interview with ABC7 in May 2023, Casper explained the origins of his biggest hit. He said he had initially developed the song and dance as a routine for a family member who was working at Bally Total Fitness as a personal trainer.
“When I first did it, I did it as an aerobic exercise for my nephew at Bally’s,” Casper told the outlet. “From there, it just took off. Elroy Smith from WGCI grabbed ahold of it,” he added, referring to the radio icon.
DJ Casper wrote the song’s lyrics, incorporating clear and straightforward instructions for each dance move. The lyrics guide dancers through a series of steps, such as stepping to the left, stepping to the right, sliding, clapping and hopping. These instructions make it easy for people to follow along and participate, even if they’re not experienced dancers.
The song was also produced with a catchy, upbeat melody that complemented the dance moves. The lyrics and music were designed to work in sync, allowing the dancers to follow the instructions seamlessly, making it a favorite at parties and events.
The “Cha-Cha Slide” was released in 2000 as a single. Its catchy tune, easy-to-follow dance routine and party-friendly nature quickly made it a hit. The song’s popularity was further boosted by its appearance in dance videos, at weddings, school dances and other social gatherings.
As the internet gained prominence, videos of people performing the “Cha-Cha Slide” began to circulate online. This viral spread contributed to the song’s enduring popularity and introduced it to a global audience. The “Cha-Cha Slide” became a cultural phenomenon, transcending generations and becoming a staple at parties and events worldwide.
The simplicity of the dance moves and the fun, inclusive nature of the song have contributed to the “Cha-Cha Slide” maintaining its popularity over the years. Its presence in pop culture has led to its use in movies, television shows, and advertisements, further solidifying its place in modern entertainment.
Casper spoke to ABC7 about the enduring popularity of his song and said:
“I have one of the biggest songs that played at all stadiums: hockey, basketball, football, baseball; they played it at the Olympics.”
Casper boiled down its universality to its simplicity. “It was something that everybody could do,” he remarked.
The song spent five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at No. 83. It had worldwide appeal and continued to top the charts for the next four years, even topping the UK Singles Chart in March 2004.
However, tragedy struck in 2016. Casper was diagnosed with kidney and neuroendocrine cancer. He began chemotherapy after an unsuccessful surgery to treat the disease.
In 2019, Casper revealed he was in remission.
“Maybe in the process of me going through the cancer situation, that was God’s way of just slowing me down just a little bit. But He kept me here for a reason, definitely for a reason,” Casper had said then.
While he was being treated for cancer, Casper turned to the power of his song to uplift those in a similar situation and at charity events.
“If you have the disease that they call cancer and you feel that you can get up and do this dance, let’s do it because that makes you feel better. As long as you’re keeping that positive mind like ‘hey, we’re gonna beat this, I’m gonna win,’ you know you can do it,” he said.
Although the cancer would make a return, Casper never let it get his spirits down. In May 2023, he told ABC7 the illness had affected him physically:
“I used to weigh 236 pounds, and I think I’m about 60 pounds less. If you know me, you know I’m not going to stop. I’m going to continue to go. I’m going to continue to go until I can’t go.”
He continued to sing the praises of the “Cha-Cha Slide” for its ability to bring people together in “unity,” and left the outlet with some words of encouragement to those battling health issues similar to his.
“Anybody that’s going through cancer, know that you have cancer and cancer does not have you,” Casper stated. “So, keep on doing the ‘Cha-Cha Slide.’”
Thank you for the joy and music, DJ Casper. Were you a “Cha-Cha Slide” fan, too? What are your favorite memories of the song and dance? Let us know, then pass this along to all your friends and family who love to get down and boogie to the tune as well.
