Creator of ‘Cha-Cha Slide’ dance hit DJ Casper dies at 58

DJ Casper, the MC and songwriter best known for the dance hit “Cha-Cha Slide” has died at age 58, his family confirmed.

The entertainer, whose real name was Willie Perry Jr., topped the worldwide charts with the song in 2004. Despite being released nearly 20 years ago, it remains a favorite at birthday parties, weddings and school functions.

The Chicago-born star, who also created its accompanying dance, had been diagnosed with kidney and liver cancer in 2016 his wife, Kim, told Chicago TV station ABC7 on Tuesday.

The catchy lyrics, originally released in 2000 and later recreated after the song grew in popularity, encouraged dancers to “slide to the left ... slide to the right” and “cha-cha real smooth.”

In an interview with ABC7 in May, its creator, who once toured with funk legend James Brown, said he hoped the dance track would remind people of the power of unity, community and positivity.

“It was just something that everybody could do.”

In 2020, Google added a way to dance along on your keyboard. When you search “Cha Cha Slide” on Google, a microphone appears next to the music video and prompts you to tap along to an interactive version of the song. Google said the hidden feature is best experienced with your volume turned up.