DJ Casper

William Perry Jr. (May 31, 1965 – August 7, 2023), better known as DJ Casper (also known as Mr. C the Slide Man), was an American disc jockey (DJ), hype man, and songwriter.[1] Born and raised in Chicago, he was known as "Casper" due to frequently being clad in all white attire on stage.[2]

Not to be confused with Dave Casper or Denise J. Casper.
DJ Casper
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Perry Jr.
Also known asMr. C the Slide Man
Born(1965-05-31)May 31, 1965
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedAugust 7, 2023(2023-08-07) (aged 58)
Hazel Crest, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Disc jockey
  • hype man
  • songwriter
Years active1998–2023
Labels
Websitecasperclassicradio.org

Career

Perry's first and only 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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] "Cha Cha Slide" was later picked up by Universal Records.[3]

Perry made an appearance as a DJ in a season 6 episode of Orange Is the New Black, in Crazy Eyes' hallucination of the prisoners and guards line dancing to the Cha Cha Slide.[6]

Illness and death

In January 2016, Perry was diagnosed with kidney cancer and neuroendocrine cancer.[7][8] After an unsuccessful surgery the same month, he began chemotherapy.[8] In an interview in July 2018, he stated he was in remission.[9] In 2019, Perry stated that he beat his kidney and liver cancers and said he was a changed man, stating "that was God's way of just slowing me down just a little bit."[10] By 2023, the cancer had returned, causing substantial cachexia.[11]

Perry died of kidney and liver cancer on August 7, 2023, at the age of 58.[12][13][11]

Discography
Perry with Mia Park at the taping of the 500th episode of Chic-a-Go-Go.

Albums
  • Out Champ (1999)[14]
  • Cha-Cha Slide: The Original Slide Album (2000)
  • Casper (2001)[14]
  • I Love You (2022)[15]

Singles
List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B		 AUS[16] GER IRE NL SWI UK
"Cha Cha Slide" 2000 83246483312861 Cha-Cha Slide: The Original Slide Album
"Oops Up Side Your Head" 2004 ––––25––16 Non-album single

References
  1. "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Business". Archived from the original on 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2007-10-27.
  2. V103.com Archived 2008-08-20 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Eng, Monica; Nagasawa, Katherine (2019). "The Cha-Cha Slide And More: Which Dances Were Invented In Chicago?". npr. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  4. Madarang, Charisma (August 8, 2023). "DJ Casper, Creator of the Beloved 'Cha Cha Slide,' Dead at 58". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  5. "DJ Casper, 'Cha Cha Slide' creator, dies at 58". NBC News. August 8, 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  6. "'Orange Is The New Black': Why the DJ Casper "Cha-Cha Slide" Moment Is So Devastating". Decider. 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  7. "Benefit for Casper/Cancer Meds by Willie Casper Perry - GoFundMe". GoFundMe. 2016-05-18. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  8. "'Cha Cha Slide' Creator DJ Casper Fighting Cancer - JetMag.com". Jet Magazine. 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  9. "'Orange Is the New Black: Behind Season 6 Most Surprising Cameo". Vanity Fair. 2018-07-28.
  10. Sanders, Hosea (2019-10-25). "DJ Casper, known for 'Cha Cha Slide,' celebrates beating cancer". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  11. Davies, Alex (8 August 2023). "Cha-Cha Slide creator and singer DJ Casper dies aged 58 following cancer battle". GB News. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  12. "Chicago native DJ Capser, creator of the "Cha-Cha Slide," has died". CBS News Chicago. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  13. Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (8 August 2023). "DJ Casper, who had No 1 hit with Cha Cha Slide, dies aged 52". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  14. Bulbul, Nuray (August 8, 2023). "DJ Casper: Musician who created Cha Cha Slide dies aged 58". Evening Standard. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  15. "I Love You". 25 February 2022.
  16. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 84.
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