About Us
The Clutch Busters is a club with dancers of all ages (from 8 to 90 years of age). We are couples, families and singles and we dance together at Plus level every Thursday in Concord, CA. We have party nights (including Root Beer Float night, a Halloween party, etc) every couple of months and also enjoy each other's company at an annual picnic and other outside activities.
This photo is from our Open House in April 2018; be sure to check out our Video and Photo pages to see more.
A Tribute to Our Caller, Gary Kendall
Gary passed away peacefully Monday, February 3, 2025 at the age of 79.
Gary is survived by his wife April of 55 years, his daughter Denise Maddalon (John), sons David (Kelly), Daniel (Kimberly), & Kevin Kendall. 7 grandchildren Allyson, Tyler, Anthony, Thomas, Joseph, Holly & Madelyn. He was preceded in death by his infant son Dustin, his father Orvin, mother Eva and brothers Roy & Raymond Kendall.
Gary was born in Tacoma, Washington. After high school, he joined the Navy. He served on several ships, the USS Rehobeth, USS Ogden, USS Detroit and USS Shasta. He spent time in San Francisco, San Diego, Fallon, Nevada, Newport, Rhode Island, Panama Canal Zone and Alameda, CA. He retired from the Navy with 21 years of service as an Electronics Technician Senior Chief.
Electronics served him well working for Day Wireless, Hilton Audio, and T-Mobile.
While in Panama, Gary & April started square dancing which became a lifelong passion of Gary’s. After 10 years of dancing, Gary took up calling square dancing. He taught hundreds of people to dance over his 42 years of calling. His love for the activity kept him going up to his last days.
Services will be held at 1:00pm Monday, February 24, 2025 at Fairfield Funeral Home. Burial at 11:00am on February 25, 2025 at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon.
Donations in memory of Gary Kendall can be made to the CALLERLAB Foundation for the preservation and promotion of square dancing. To make a donation online, visit https://www.callerlabfoundation.com/make-a-donation
To make a donation by mail, send a check made out to “CALLERLAB Foundation” to:
The CALLERLAB Foundation
494 S. Emerson Ave. Ste H1
Greenwood, IN 46143-1953
Our History
In September 1956 three squares of dancers started square dance lessons with Elmer Radcliffe as caller/instructor. Elmer was teaching a call named Slip the Clutch. The squares kept breaking down and Elmer said "you are a bunch of Clutch Busters." When the club was formed, we adopted the name Clutch Busters.
Our newsletter, The Record, has been published monthly since 1960. It was first printed on a duplicating machine and mailed to members; today we distribute it by email.