Cha-Cha Slide creator and singer DJ Casper dies aged 58 following cancer battle
DJ Casper has died at the age of 58
YOUTUBE/DJ CASPER VEVO
DJ Casper, whose real name is Willie Perry Jr, has died at the age of 58.
The singer was diagnosed with cancer back in 2016 and died on Monday, August 7.
DJ Casper was open and honest about his cancer battle in the years before his death, with the star opening up earlier this year about his diagnosis.
"If you know me, you know I'm not gonna stop," he told ABC Chicago 7 in May. "I'm going to continue to go.
"I will continue to go until I can't go," he added as he also revealed he'd lost 180lbs since he received his diagnosis.
Tributes from far and wide have flooded in for the singer, with Twitter users sharing their condolences online.
DJ Casper spoke out about his illness in the months before his death
ABC 7 CHICAGO
One fan said on Twitter: "RIP DJ Casper, whose “Cha Cha Slide” has been an immeasurable and integral part of seemingly every inter-generational celebration I’ve ever attended."
A second added: "The cha-cha slide was a staple at the cookouts. RIP DJ Casper #DJCasper #kaicenat."
And a third weighed in: "Losing DJ Casper and Dj Deeon back to back has me in my feelings. We need to do more to document and celebrate Chicago cultural legends while they are here."
Meanwhile, another commented: "RIP DJ Casper, the creator of The Cha Cha Slide. That man had a hand in making many family reunions, BBQs, dances, weddings, sporting events & other events fun with his song.
"I was literally just singing it yesterday with my brother playing around. He left a legacy."
The singer was diagnosed in 2016 with two forms of cancer - kidney cancer and neuroendocrine cancer.
It soon became clear surgery wouldn't be successful so DJ Casper underwent chemotherapy.
Explaining the complications, he added to ABC 7 Chicago: "They went in to try to do surgery, and they found out the kidney was connected to the main artery...
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The Cha-Cha Slide creator spoke openly about his illness
ABC 7 CHICAGO
"So they decided not to do it. They decided to just treat it."