MUSIC icon DJ Casper, who was best known for Cha Cha Slide, has died at the age of 58, his wife has confirmed.
The pop music legend, born and raised in Chicago, revealed he had been diagnosed with kidney and liver cancer in 2016.
However, his cause of death has not been revealed.
The DJ and hype man – real name Willie Perry Jr – previously told ABC7 he was having trouble eating, and was losing a lot of weight.
He said: "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."
Read our live blog below for the latest news and updates…
- By Louis Allwood
Where is DJ Casper from?
Born on May 31, 1965, DJ Casper was from Chicago.
He grew up in the Englewood, and this is where he got his first taste for music.
In fact it it was there that DJ Casper's famous Cha Cha Slide song was picked up by Elroy Smith at Chicago's radio station, WGCI-FM.
- By Louis Allwood
Who was DJ Casper?
DJ Casper – real name Willie Perry Jr – was an iconic songwriter and DJ.
The late star was known as "Casper" due to frequently being clad in all white attire on stage.
In 2016 he revealed he had been diagnosed with kidney and liver cancer, and sadly passed away from the disease on August 7, 2023.
Perry previously told ABC7 he was having trouble eating, and losing a lot of weight.
"I used to weigh 236 pounds, and I think I’m about 60 pounds less," he said.
"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."
- By Louis Allwood
Perry's hopes for Cha Cha Slide
After his cancer diagnosis, he said he hoped the Cha Cha Slide would always serve as a reminder of the importance of unity, community and positivity.
"Anybody that's going through cancer, know that you have cancer and cancer does not have you," Perry told ABC7.
"So, keep on doing the Cha Cha Slide."
- By Louis Allwood
Cha Cha Slide's UK success
The iconic song was first released in 2000 but it took four years for the Cha Cha Slide to reach the UK.
When it finally arrived, the song was eventually certified Platinum for selling over 600,000 copies.
- By Louis Allwood
'Memory will live on'
Fans have taken to social media to share tributes to the star.
One said: "DUDE WHO MADE CHA CHA SLIDE DIED. Rip Dj casper your memory will live on at every family reunion, wedding, and school dance."
A second added: "RIP DJ CASPER. CHA CHA SLIDE LEGENDARY ANTHEM."
- By Louis Allwood
'Memory will live on'
Fans have taken to social media to share tributes to the star.
One said: "DUDE WHO MADE CHA CHA SLIDE DIED. Rip Dj casper your memory will live on at every family reunion, wedding, and school dance."
A second added: "RIP DJ CASPER. CHA CHA SLIDE LEGENDARY ANTHEM."
- By Louis Allwood
What are the symptoms of liver cancer?
Around 6,100 people are diagnosed with liver cancer every year but the number of cases has doubled over the past decade and is expected to continue to rise.
Symptoms include loss of appetite, unexpected weight loss, vomiting blood and pain or swelling of the abdomen.
- By Louis Allwood
Iconic song lyrics
Cha Cha slide is an iconic 1990s song that had listeners dancing to the moves.
Take a look at the song lyrics below.
This is something new
The Casper Slide part two
Featuring the Platinum Band
And this time
We're going to get funky
FunkyEverybody clap your hands
Clap, clap, clap, clap your hands
Clap, clap, clap, clap your hands
Alright now, we're going to do the basic stepTo the left
Take it back now, y'all
One hop this time
Right foot, let's stomp
Left foot, let's stomp
Cha cha real smoothTurn it out
To the left
Take it back now y'all
One hop this time
Right foot, let's stomp
Left foot, let's stomp
Cha cha now y'all
Now it's time to get funkyTo the right now
To the left
Take it back now y'all
One hop this time
One hop this time
Right foot two stomps
Left foot two stomps
Slide to the left
Slide to the right
Criss cross
Criss cross
Cha cha real smoothLet's go to work
To the left
Take it back now y'all
Two hops this time
Two hops this time
Right foot two stomps
Left foot two stomps
Hands on you knees, hands on your knees
Get funky with it
Oh yeah
Come on, cha cha now y'all - By Louis Allwood
Iconic song lyrics
Cha Cha slide is an iconic 1990s song that had listeners dancing to the moves.
Take a look at the song lyrics below.
This is something new
The Casper Slide part two
Featuring the Platinum Band
And this time
We're going to get funky
FunkyEverybody clap your hands
Clap, clap, clap, clap your hands
Clap, clap, clap, clap your hands
Alright now, we're going to do the basic stepTo the left
Take it back now, y'all
One hop this time
Right foot, let's stomp
Left foot, let's stomp
Cha cha real smoothTurn it out
To the left
Take it back now y'all
One hop this time
Right foot, let's stomp
Left foot, let's stomp
Cha cha now y'all
Now it's time to get funkyTo the right now
To the left
Take it back now y'all
One hop this time
One hop this time
Right foot two stomps
Left foot two stomps
Slide to the left
Slide to the right
Criss cross
Criss cross
Cha cha real smoothLet's go to work
To the left
Take it back now y'all
Two hops this time
Two hops this time
Right foot two stomps
Left foot two stomps
Hands on you knees, hands on your knees
Get funky with it
Oh yeah
Come on, cha cha now y'all
- By Louis Allwood
What was Perry's cause of death?
The songwriter – real name Willie Perry Jr – revealed he had been diagnosed with kidney and liver cancer in 2016.
Perry’s wife, Kim, announced that he tragically lost his battle with the disease.
Perry's cause of death has not been released.
- By Louis Allwood
When was Cha Cha Slide released?
It was released in August, 2000 and spent five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
But it continued to be a hit around the world for four years – topping the UK Singles Chart in March 2004.
- By Louis Allwood
Fans left devastated
Fans of DJ Casper have taken to social media to share their thoughts following the icon's tragic death.
One fan wrote: "Aw man. Sad news. RIP. Cha Cha Slide one the best floor fillers in history!"
A second added: "My condolences to the family of DJ Casper the man who brought us the Cha Cha slide."
- By Louis Allwood
What did Perry say about Cha Cha Slide?
"When I first did it, I did it as an aerobic exercise for my nephew at Bally's," Casper said.
"From there, it just took off. I have one of the biggest songs that played at all stadiums – hockey, basketball, football, baseball, they played it at the Olympics.
"It was something that everybody could do."
- By Louis Allwood
How was Cha Cha Slide born?
Perry came up with the Cha Cha Slide – one of the most popular line dances in history.
Perry came up with the 1990s version of the hit song after his nephew, a PE teacher in Chicago, asked Casper to write a track for a step aerobics class.
- By Louis Allwood
Perry was previously having trouble eating
Perry previously told ABC7 he was having trouble eating, and losing a lot of weight.
He said: "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."
- By Louis Allwood
Who announced Perry's death?
Perry’s wife, Kim, announced that he tragically lost his battle with the disease.
- By Louis Allwood
Cha Cha Slide creator dies aged 58
CHha Cha Slide creator DJ Casper has died at the age of 58.
The songwriter – real name Willie Perry Jr – revealed he had been diagnosed with kidney and liver cancer in 2016.
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