DJ Casper, creator of the 'Cha Cha Slide,' dies at 58 following cancer diagnosis

Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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The Chicago native, real name Willie Perry Jr., died from cancer on Monday with his family by his side, his wife Kim told ABC7. In 2016, he was diagnosed with renal and neuroendocrine cancer, the latter of which affected his kidneys and liver.
The Chicago native, real name Willie Perry Jr., died from cancer on Monday with his family by his side, his wife Kim told ABC7. In 2016, he was diagnosed with renal and neuroendocrine cancer, the latter of which affected his kidneys and liver.
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DJ Casper, the creator behind dance party favorite "Cha Cha Slide," has died. He was 58.

The Chicago native, real name Willie Perry Jr., died from cancer on Monday with his family by his side, his wife Kim told ABC7, according to The Associated Press. In 2016, he was diagnosed with renal and neuroendocrine cancer, the latter of which affected his kidneys and liver.

USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for DJ Casper for further comment.

"Anybody that's going through cancer, know that you have cancer and cancer does not have you," DJ Casper told ABC7 in May. "So, keep on doing the 'Cha Cha Slide.'"

Doctors "went in to try to do surgery, and they found out the kidney was connected to the main artery, so they decided not to do it and just treat it," he told the Chicago television station.

"If you know me, you know I’m not going to stop," he said. "I’m going to continue to go. I’m going to continue to go until I can’t go."

His line dance hit has been popularized throughout the world, often played at wedding receptions, birthdays, prom dances and various celebrations.

Part one was released in 1998 and part two, which became the version most often played, was released in 2000. The song reached No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart that year and Scotland and Ireland's dance charts, per Variety.

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A post shared by Casper Perry (@officialdjcasper)

The "Cha Cha Slide" came about while DJ Casper said he was doing "an aerobic exercise for my nephew at Bally's (Total Fitness). From there, it just took off. Elroy Smith from WGCI grabbed ahold of it," he told ABC7.

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"I have one of the biggest songs that played at all stadiums: hockey, basketball, football, baseball; they played it at the Olympics," he boasted. "It was something that everybody could do."

In an interview with the "Thrivetime Show" podcast in 2020, DJ Casper revealed his biggest audience that he led the "Cha Cha Slide" for was at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans for Essence Music Festival. The attendance was over 80,000 people.

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Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DJ Casper dead: 'Cha Cha Slide' creator dies from cancer at 58