DJ Casper, the Chicago musician whose “Cha Cha Slide” music grew to become a worldwide hit following its launch in 2000, handed away on Monday after a prolonged battle with most cancers. The deceased disc jockey, hype man, and songwriter was 58.
The announcement of DJ Casper’s demise was made by his spouse Kim, ABC7 Chicago reported. In an announcement, she mentioned her deceased husband was “a fun-loving, giving particular person.” “He was a real, household oriented man. He cherished Chicago with all his coronary heart. He can be significantly missed.”
Following its launch in August 2000, “Cha Cha Slide” featured on the Billboard Scorching 100 for a interval of 5 weeks and has remained a world hit. In what could be his remaining tv interview earlier than his passing, DJ Casper talked concerning the fame he achieved with the music and his most cancers analysis.
He mentioned he by no means anticipated “Cha Cha Slide” was going to launch him to international stardom. “Once I first did it, I did it as an cardio train for my nephew at Bally’s,” DJ Casper advised the information outlet in Could. “From there, it simply took off. Elroy Smith from WGCI grabbed ahold of it.”
“I’ve one of many largest songs that performed in any respect stadiums: hockey, basketball, soccer, baseball; they performed it on the Olympics,” he added. “It was one thing that everyone might do.”
The deceased DJ was additionally initially on a tour with James Brown, however his most cancers analysis made him withdraw. “They identified me in 2016 with two sorts of most cancers, which is renal and Neuroendocrine, which is kidney and liver,” mentioned DJ Casper. “They went in to attempt to do surgical procedure, and so they came upon the kidney was linked to the principle artery, in order that they determined to not do it and simply deal with it.”
DJ Casper additionally touched on the well being challenges he endured following his analysis, revealing that he misplaced vital weight and had points consuming, ABC7 Chicago reported. “I used to weigh 236 kilos, and I believe I’m about 60 kilos much less,” he mentioned. “If you recognize me, you recognize I’m not going to cease. I’m going to proceed to go. I’m going to proceed to go till I can’t go.”
Regardless of his well being struggles, DJ Casper shared some phrases of encouragement to different most cancers sufferers. “Anyone that’s going by means of most cancers, know that you’ve most cancers and most cancers doesn’t have you ever,” Casper mentioned. “So, carry on doing the ‘Cha Cha Slide.’”
