By: Avery Lin
DJ Casper, born William Perry Jr., has lost his battle with cancer. On August 7, 2023, he died at the age of 58. DJ Casper was the creator of the song “Cha Cha Slide.” Cha Cha Slide earned him about two million dollars. Casper was born and raised in Chicago.
Fame was unexpected for Casper. He originally recorded the song for his nephew’s aerobic exercises. When the track became popular, Casper was totally unprepared. At first, he performed at local parties and clubs. Eventually the song started playing on the radio and Universal Records told him they wanted him to go on a tour.
The song “Cha Cha Slide” was not originally titled “Cha Cha Slide,” though. It was first called “Casper Slide Pt. 1.” Later, it became “Casper Slide Pt. 2.”
"I have one of the biggest songs that played at all stadiums: hockey, basketball, football, baseball; they played it at the Olympics," Casper previously said. "It was something that everybody could do."
Casper was diagnosed with cancer in 2016. He told ABC7 that he was diagnosed with two types of cancer, renal and neuroendocrine. These cancers are kidney and liver cancers. He lost about 60 pounds as a result. Casper’s doctors wanted to perform surgery, but they found out that his kidney was connected to a major artery, so they decided not to do it. Yet, he remained happy.
"Anybody that's going through cancer, know that you have cancer and cancer does not have you," Casper told the station. "So, keep on doing the 'Cha Cha Slide.'"
Sources: https://eb18600f7bb2916037f5ee8e636ce199.cdn.bubble.io/f1691954801494x902121217524605200/DJ%20Casper%2C%20creator%20of%20the%20iconic%20and%20ubiquitous%20_Cha%20Cha%20Slide%2C_%20has%20died%20at%2058%20_%20NPR.pdf
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/cha-cha-slide-creator-dj-casper-dead-58