YouTube lip-syncher Keenan Cahill has died at the age of 27

CNN
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Before there were countless TikTok users lip-syncing and trying to choreograph intricate pop songs, there were Kenan Cahill Extraordinary lip-synching.

With little more than a desktop computer and pure passion, Cahill has racked up millions of views on his YouTube channel by mouthing the words to the songs of the day. He even got famous people, incl Kate Berry And the 50 centsto join him.

Cahill, a charming, bespectacled musician in his own right whose videos have delighted millions, died Thursday in a Chicago hospital, his manager David Graham confirmed to CNN. He was 27 years old.

The Chicago native had Marotto-lamy syndrome, a condition that causes enlarged organs among other symptoms, which led to his Receive frequent treatments He underwent several surgeries. According to his verified social media accounts, he was set to do so Undergo open heart surgery earlier this Month.

His family mentioned in the book of A GoFundMe It was organized by his aunt and he also participated Facebook page. He began fundraising to help pay for Cahill’s medical and funeral expenses.

Cahill became one of the first viral stars of the 2000s with his lip-syncing videos, which were filmed in his bedroom from his office while he was still a teenager. The concept was simple: Cahill was a perpetually expressive man who uttered the lyrics to songs of the era like Usher “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” and rihanna “The only girl in the world)” With aplomb, watch the scenery flow.

These videos have often landed on the singers behind the hit songs, starting with Perry after Cahill lip-synching to “Teenage Dream”, one of her most iconic videos. She tweeted her love to deliver it and later invited to appear on tour in Pennsylvania in 2011.

Cahill has recruited celebrities like 50 Cent and Ariana Grande for lip-synching in his YouTube videos, some of which, incl Jennifer AnistonProducer David Guetta and the contestants On “America’s Next Top Model” he borrowed his viral star power for their videos. According to his manager, Cahill became one of the first YouTubers to cross 500 million views on his personal channel.

But Cahill wanted to be known for more than just lip-syncing, release single in 2013 and later became a DJ and producer.

“He never made a lot of money, but he enjoyed what he was doing and brought smiles to a lot of people’s faces,” his family said on a GoFundMe.

Cahill’s cheerfulness and love of music were remembered by his friends and fans. DJ Pauly D of “Jersey Shore” fame to thank is “to always make the world smile”. Perez Hilton, gossip staple of the internet in the mids, Re-shared A video the two made years earlier to Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger.” And popular Twitch user Ellohime, with whom Cahill regularly played the “RimWorld” video game on the platform, praised to Cahill as the “Forever Viking,” from one viral star to another.

Graham, his manager, described Cahill as a “legend”.

“Kenan has inspired millions around the world by being his true self despite his short stature, illness, and 15-16 year old,” he said in an email to CNN, referring to the era in which Cahill is best known.