DJ Casper

Willie Perry Jr. (born May 31, 1971), best known as DJ Casper, is an American songwriter and DJ.^[1]

Perry Jr. was raised in Englewood, Chicago, and is known as Casper because he almost always wears white clothing on stage. He is also known as Mr. C – The Slide Man.^[2] Casper's first hit record, "Casper Slide Pt. 1"—also known as "Cha Cha Slide"—was created by Casper for his nephew, who worked as a personal trainer at a Bally Total Fitness in 1998. 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 WGCI-FM radio station. The song became a hit in Chicago in 2004, when the city's M.O.B. Records record label became involved as well, helping Casper create a whole compilation album with other Chicago-based artists to promote the dance. "Cha Cha Slide" was later picked up by Universal Records.

In January 2016, Perry Jr. was diagnosed with kidney cancer and neuroendocrine cancer.^[3][4] After unsuccessful surgery the same month, he began chemotherapy.^[4] In an interview in July 2018, he stated he was in remission.^[5]

Discography

References