“Cha Cha Slide” creator DJ Casper reportedly passed away on Monday, Aug. 7, at 58, ABC 7 Chicago reported.
Casper’s wife, Kim, confirmed the news to the outlet.
DJ Casper’s death came after his approximately seven-year battle with two forms of cancer: kidney and lung.
Three months prior, Casper did his last TV interview with ABC 7, reflecting on the two decades of his global hit’s success.
Released in 2000, the Chicago native created the “Cha Cha Slide” song and dance as an aerobic exercise for his nephew with no expectations of it blowing up the way it did.
“When I first did it, I did it as an aerobic exercise for my nephew at Bally’s,” Casper explained. “From there, it just took off. Elroy Smith from WGCI grabbed ahold of it.”
Soon the jam was popularized worldwide and played at various events.
“I have one of the biggest songs that played at all stadiums: hockey, basketball, football, baseball; they played it at the Olympics,” Casper said. “It was something that everybody could do.”
Casper’s iconic “One hop this time / right foot, let’s stomp” lyrics strongly influenced the world, inciting multiple generations to rise out of their chairs at gatherings and dance with their loved ones and strangers.
It united the world and landed him a spot on James Brown’s tour.
Life did a 180 when he received his cancer diagnosis in 2016.
“They diagnosed me in 2016 with two kinds of cancer, which is renal and Neuroendocrine, which is kidney and live,” Casper shared. “They went in to try to do surgery, and they found out the kidney was connected to the main artery, so they decided not to do it and just treat it.”
His cancer battle led him to endure weight loss and loss of appetite, but he refused to let his cancer stop him from doing what he loved.
“I used to weigh 236 pounds, and I think I’m about 60 pounds less,” Casper said. “If you know me, you know I’m not going to stop. I’m going to continue to go. I’m going to continue to go until I can’t go.”
Since the song went viral, Casper wanted the “Cha Cha Slide” to unite the world and bring positivity.
He also left a positive message for those struggling with cancer.
“Anybody that’s going through cancer know that you have cancer, and cancer does not have you,” Casper said. “So, keep on doing the ‘Cha Cha Slide.'”
