Retired tech engineer John Lonczak, formerly of Sunnyvale, was well known to attendees and bands at Northern California festivals, concerts, and radio programs as Dancin’ John. He died at his home in Rancho Cordova after dancing for the final time at the Strawberry Music Festival this past Memorial Day Weekend. He was 69 years old.
He was deeply devoted to the idea that all kinds of live music, including bluegrass, should be accompanied by dancers. When he was unable to lure others to dance near the stage, he would dance alone, often for extended periods of time. His stamina was impressive.
At many festivals, including the NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, John would arrange with festival management to mark off and police an official dance area so that dancers and the other less active patrons would each have plenty of space to enjoy the performance in their own way.
For one long and absolutely manic festival season, John attempted to set a new Guiness Book of World Records record for “dancing at the most festivals during a calendar year.” He did not make the record book, although though he did achieve his goal. He danced at a sufficient number of festivals but did not understand that Guiness requires submission of a detailed plan in advance and an agreement about documentation and witnesses with the record book staff. John did all the dancing brilliantly — but his after-the-fact submission was denied. He drove many thousands of miles, usually dancing at multiple festivals every weekend and often as many as two or three in a single day. He decided that he would not try a second time, but instead would return to leisurely enjoying dancing at the festivals he loved.
John also danced on KKUP Radio — a medium not often used to present the art of dance. His regular appearances on Mike Russell‘s Monday night show (where Michael Hall would emcee) with the Stoney Mountain Ramblers, Windy Hill, and other bands he loved led to an amazing fact: The only two live bluegrass music radio programs with regular on-air dance performances were The Grand Ole Opry on WSM in Nashville and Monday Night Bluegrass on KKUP in San Jose.
After leaving the Bay Area and moving to Rancho Cordova, John set up shop for his business in a warehouse. John sold high end sound systems for commercial sound reinforcement. He lived in his camping vehicle within the warehouse. He would drive in and set up camp. John enjoyed camping at the warehouse and at bluegrass festivals full time. His original Sprinter van was totaled in an accident in December 2020 after decades of service. He bought his fancy newĀ Mercedes Sprinter to replace it
Dancin’ John was a unique talent who went his own way to enjoy bluegrass music. He had a heart as big as Texas. He was different, he was fun, he was dedicated, and above all, he was fiercely independent. His passing leaves a big hole in the Northern California bluegrass community. One could easily believe that there will never be another like him.
John Lonczak was born at Lackland AFB in San Antonio TX. He was predeceased by his parents Walter and Rose Mary Lonczak. He was the oldest of six children, all of whom survive: Alice McAuliffe (Pat), David Lonczak (Julie), Mark Lonczak (Nancy), Karen Lonczak and Mary Anne Amato.