The creative mind responsible for crafting the iconic “Cha Cha Slide” — a dance anthem that became synonymous with celebrations and workout sessions worldwide during the turn of the millennium — has passed away.
DJ Casper, whose real name was Willie Perry Jr., succumbed to cancer on Monday, as revealed by his wife in an interview with ABC7 in Chicago. He was 58 years old.
Hailing from Chicago, Casper initially crafted an iteration of the “Cha Cha Slide” in the late 1990s, intending it as an aerobic exercise routine for his nephew, who was employed as a personal trainer at Bally Total Fitness.
The track swiftly gained momentum, with requests pouring in for Casper to perform it at local clubs and parties, according to reports from WBEZ. The song found its way onto Chicago’s WGCI-FM radio station in 2000, eventually catching the attention of Universal Records.
Reflecting on the unexpected success of the “Cha Cha Slide,” Casper shared in a 2018 interview with Chicago’s PBS station WTTW, “I never foresaw the ‘Cha Cha Slide’ attaining the level of success it did. Everything transpired rapidly—Universal Records contacted me, urging me to embark on a tour, and things took a pleasantly chaotic turn.”
In 2000, Casper introduced a revamped version initially titled “Casper Slide Part 2,” which later evolved into the renowned “Cha Cha Slide.” This iteration garnered immense popularity in the United States and soared to the top of the charts in the United Kingdom in 2004, as documented by Pitchfork.
Transitioning from a modest workout composition to a global sensation, the “Cha Cha Slide” continues to endure as a fixture at weddings, birthday celebrations, school physical education classes, and more.
Within the song, Casper guides dancers through a series of uncomplicated steps, encouraging them to glide left and right, execute crisscross moves, channel their inner Charlie Brown, and, naturally, cha cha with grace.
Now firmly ingrained within the realm of popular culture, the “Cha Cha Slide” has even graced the screens of television shows such as Orange is the New Black and Saturday Night Live.
In a conversation with ABC7, Casper disclosed that he was diagnosed with kidney and liver cancers in 2016, a revelation that prompted him to lose approximately 60 pounds. Despite these formidable trials, he retained the optimistic demeanor that defined his most legendary creation.
When addressing individuals grappling with cancer, Casper extended words of inspiration, affirming, “Recall, you may be afflicted by cancer, but cancer does not exert dominion over you. Hence, continue to sway to the rhythm of the ‘Cha Cha Slide.'”
