DJ Casper, creator of “Cha-Cha Slide”, has passed away aged 58

DJ Casper – AKA Mr. C The Slide Man – created “Casper Slide Pt. 1,” the original version of the “Cha-Cha Slide,” for his nephew, who worked as a personal trainer at Bally Total Fitness. In 2000 he released “Casper Slide Pt. 2,” which started to get airplay from radio DJ Elroy Smith on Chicago’s WGCI and became a local sensation. It was eventually picked up by Universal Records, who helped popularise the song around the world.

A slow-burn success, it caught on around the US in 2001 and became a minor chart hit (reaching No 83) before arriving in the UK in 2004 and going to No 1. Casper also released an accompanying album, Cha-Cha Slide: The Original Slide Album.

DJ Casper toured extensively in support of “Cha-Cha Slide,” including dates with James Brown, and appeared as himself in an episode of Orange Is The New Black.