CHICAGO (AP) 鈥 Willie Perry Jr., a Chicago disc jockey known as 鈥淒J Casper鈥 and creator of the iconic 鈥淐ha Cha Slide鈥 dance, has died. He was 58.
Perry was diagnosed with cancer in 2016, and his wife confirmed his death Monday in a statement to .
鈥淐asper was a fun-loving, giving person,鈥 his wife, Kim, said in the statement. 鈥淗e was a genuine, family oriented man. He loved Chicago with all his heart. He will be greatly missed.鈥
His 鈥淐ha Cha Slide鈥 continues to be a favorite at weddings, clubs and many other events about two decades after it became popular. Participants typically dance in lines and rows, following commands to a funky beat on when and where to step, stomp, hop and slide.
Perry told WLS-TV in a May interview that the 鈥淐ha Cha Slide鈥 initially was an aerobic exercise for his nephew who worked at a fitness club. It would go on to become popular in many countries.
鈥淔rom there, it just took off,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 have one of the biggest songs that's played at all stadiums: hockey, basketball, football, baseball. They played it at the Olympics. It was something that everybody could do.鈥
Perry said he was diagnosed in 2016 with renal and neuroendocrine cancer.
Doctors 鈥渨ent 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,鈥 he told the television station.
Perry said the illness caused him to lose about 60 pounds (27.2 kilograms).
鈥淚f you know me, you know I鈥檓 not going to stop," he said. "I鈥檓 going to continue to go. I鈥檓 going to continue to go until I can鈥檛 go.鈥
鈥淎nybody that鈥檚 going through cancer, know that you have cancer and cancer does not have you,鈥 he added. 鈥淪o, keep on doing the 鈥楥ha Cha Slide.鈥欌
The Associated Press was unable to reach Perry's family for comment Tuesday.
