Robert Barclay
Host, The Juke JointContact Robert Barclay:
📧 barcl1ra@cmich.edu 📞 989-774-3105
Robert Barclay launched "The Juke Joint" broadcast on WCMU in April 1985. It has been a Sunday night fixture from 8:00-11:00 pm ever since. A devoted listener dubbed him the "Duke of Juke." He includes nearly a century's worth of blues history on his program including traditional and contemporary blues along with boogie woogie, soul music, rhythm & blues, zydeco and gospel music.
In 2004, the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee honored him with the "Keeping the Blues Alive Award" in the radio category. The ceremony was hosted by Bob Porter, a noted blues producer and author. The Blues Foundation is an international organization that promotes blues music and maintains the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis.
In 2015, the Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters presented him with the Public Media Impact Award for "outstanding contributions to Public Broadcasting."
Since 1988 he has been a contributing photographer to Living Blues magazine, published by the University of Mississippi, and his work has been published on CD covers for a variety of blues artists.
He was the Director of Photography in the University Communications office at CMU where he was employed since 1980. He retired in 2013 and was granted emeritus status.
He and his wife, Peggy Brisbane, photographically documented the history of WCMU's "Our Front Porch" concert series for several decades and continue to document the Wheatland Music Festival.
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This week on The Juke Joint is one of The Duke's Favorites, originally aired on July 2, 2017. Robert Barclay celebrated the birthday of Mississippi John Hurt, a finger-style acoustic guitarist and songster. He turned 124 on July 2, 2017. So, he turned 133 years old back in July 3, 2026. Robert spun Hurt's recordings along with interpretations by some of his admirers such as Taj Mahal, Maria Muldaur, Chris Smither, Dave Van Ronk, Rory Block, Jim Kweskin, Geoff Muldaur and Doc Watson. -
This week on The Juke Joint is one of The Duke's Favorites, originally aired on August 27, 2017.This week Robert Barclay did a tribute to the pioneering blues author, Paul Oliver, who died on August 15, 2017 at the age of 90 at his home in England. His 1970 book, Story of the Blues, informed the music world of the early history of the music. Oliver also wrote hundreds of liner notes and magazine articles.Robert played some of the collections of early blues that Oliver produced for reissue including music by Blind Blake, Charlie Patton, Cannon's Jug Stompers and the Beale Street Sheiks. -
This week on The Juke Joint is one of The Duke's Favorites, originally aired on October 8, 2017. Robert Barclay featured the work of Delbert McClinton, a singer, songwriter and harmonica player from Texas. Delbert's early exposure to Big Joe Turner, Jimmy Reed, Sonny Boy Williamson and Lightnin' Hopkins inspired his musical career. He's performed in roadhouses, juke joints and honky tonks for the past 50 years. Robert had the chance to sit down with Delbert on his tour bus and hear some of those stories. -
This week on The Juke Joint is one of The Duke's Favorites, originally aired on February 19, 2017.Robert Barclay featured the work of Chicago blues harp player and singer Charlie Musselwhite. During his interview with Charlie, they discussed Charlie's years in Memphis and Chicago, where he learned from the blues masters before relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he has been based ever since. -
This week on The Juke Joint is a re-run of a program that originally aired September 3, 2017. Robert Barclay played tunes about automobiles (Fords, Cadillacs, a Mercury and a Mercedes Benz) along with songs about road trips on Highway 61 and Route 66! Along with the artists in this photo, he also played tunes by Maria Muldaur, Rory Block, Rosco Gordon, Frank Frost and Jerry Lee Lewis. -
This week on The Juke Joint is a re-run of a program that originally aired April 27, 2025. Robert Barclay features the post-war Detroit blues scene with comments from blues harp player Aaron "Little Sonny" Willis. He was part of the Hastings Street blues scene along with John Lee Hooker, Baby Boy Warren, Eddie Burns, Washboard Willie, One-String Sam, Bobo Jenkins and Eddie Kirkland. -
This week’s edition of “The Juke Joint” is a re-run of a program that originally aired April 13, 2025. Robert Barclay shares some new CDs by Johnny Rawls, Janiva Magness, Jimmy Vivino, Kid Ramos, Rev. Peyton, Bobby Rush, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. He also shares some stories about Albert Collins, Koko Taylor, and Linda Gail Lewis. -
This week's edition of "The Juke Joint" is a rebroadcast of a program that originally aired on August 10, 2025. In this episode, Robert Barclay explored the work of influential soul songwriter Don Covay, featuring recordings of his songs by Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Solomon Burke, the Staple Singers, and Chubby Checker. This special encore presentation is part of WCMU's Summer Fundraiser, with fundraising support provided by hosts Rick Brewer and David Nicholas. -
This week’s edition of “The Juke Joint” is a rebroadcast of a program that originally aired January 26, 2025. We’re heading back to Louisiana for some Cajun, zydeco and blues tunes. We’ll hear from Terrance Simien, Beausoleil, Katie Webster, C.J. Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco, Lazy Lester, Chubby Carrier, Rosie Ledet, John Mooney, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, and Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys. The Duke of Juke, Robert Barclay, will include some interview sound bites from three of the artists. -
This week’s edition of The Juke Joint is a re-run of a program that originally aired October 9, 2025. Robert Barclay spins a couple of vintage albums by Junior Wells and Tom Waits. He also shares new CDs by Rory Block, Roomful of Blues, Johnnie Johnson, Doug MacLeod and Gina Sicilia.
