DJ Casper (aka Mister C) passed away from cancer. |
On Friday, Hip-Hop turns 50.
Also my son's birthday.
Best day ever.
DJ Casper (akso Mister C The Slide Man), the one hot wonder who made the party anthem "Cha Cha Slide" has passed away from terminal cancer. He was 58.
The song best for a graduation, wedding, birthday party, bar mitzvah, club scene or doing a TikTok video, you know the "Cha Cha Slide".
Born Willie Perry, Jr., DJ Capser's first hit record, "Casper Slide Pt. 1" – also known as "Cha Cha Slide" – was created by Perry for his nephew, who worked as a personal trainer at a Bally Total Fitness in 1998. After the song grew in popularity as an aerobic exercise at fitness clubs and PE in schools, Casper created a second song in 2000, titled "Casper Slide Pt. 2", which was picked up by Elroy Smith at Chicago's radio station, WGCI-FM.
The song became a hit in Chicago in 2004, when the city's M.O.B. Records record label became involved as well, helping Perry create a whole compilation album with other Chicago-based artists to promote the dance. "Cha Cha Slide" was later picked up by Universal Records.
In January 2016, was diagnosed with kidney cancer and neuroendocrine cancer. After unsuccessful surgery the same month, he began chemotherapy. In an interview in July 2018, he stated he was in remission. In 2022, it returned and it was terminal.
In 2019, Casper stated that he beat his liver and kidney cancers and said he is a changed man, stating "that was God's way of just slowing me down just a little bit."
Casper has performed the popular line dance all over the world.
"I have one of the biggest songs that played at all stadiums: hockey, basketball, football, baseball; they played it at the Olympics," Casper said. "It was something that everybody could do."
He was even touring with James Brown. But, everything came to a halt when the icon was diagnosed with cancer.
The party man, DJ Casper. |
His battle brought waves of challenges over the years. Most recently, Casper shared with ABC7 that he was having trouble eating, and was losing a lot of weight.
"I used to weigh 236 pounds, and I think I'm about 60 pounds less," Casper 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."
Casper said he hopes his "Cha Cha Slide" will always serve as a reminder of the power of unity, community and positivity.
He left behind an important message for those who are struggling.
"Anybody that's going through cancer, know that you have cancer and cancer does not have you," Casper said. "So, keep on doing the 'Cha Cha Slide.'"
On Monday, Casper's wife, Kim, announced that he lost his battle to cancer with loved ones by his side.
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