The Chicago native, born Willie Perry Jr., wrote the song as an exercise track for his nephew in the late 1990s before it exploded in popularity and became a worldwide hit.
The musical mind behind the «Cha Cha Slide» — the ubiquitous turn-of-the-millennium dance hit played at celebrations and in gyms across the world — has died.
DJ Casper died Monday after a long battle with cancer, his wife told ABC7 in Chicago. He was 58.
Born Willie Perry Jr., the Chicago native originally recorded a version of the «Cha Cha Slide» in the late 1990s as an aerobic exercise for his nephew, who was working as a personal trainer at Bally Total Fitness.
Casper said the track quickly took off and he got requests to perform it at local clubs and parties, according to WBEZ.
