
Robert Barclay
Host, The Juke JointRobert 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” broadcast Robert Barclay shares his interview with acoustic blues guitarist and singer Rory Block. She offers details about growing up in Greenwich Village in the 1950s and ‘60s, crossing paths with Bob Dylan, Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, Maria Muldaur, Reverend Gary Davis and Alan Wilson.
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This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast 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.
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This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay continues to celebrate the centennial birthdays of B.B. King, Jimmy Reed and Clifton Chenier. He also spins new releases by Roomful of Blues, Bob Corritore and Mud Morganfield.
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This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay spins new releases including tributes to Sam Cooke and Clifton Chenier along with Elmore James, TV Slim, Billy Branch, Johnnie Johnson, Doug MacLeod, Tom Hambridge and Candice Ivory.
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This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay spins music by blues and soul royalty including BB, Albert, Freddy and Earl King along with Aretha Franklin, Dinah Washington, Thornetta Davis, and Shemekia Copeland.
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This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay has some September dates to celebrate including the centennial birthdays of BB King and Jimmy Reed. He also notes the birthdays of Barbecue Bob, Jazz Gillum, Roy Brown, Juke Logan, Little Milton and Shari Kane and debuts new CDs by Mud Morganfield, Kirk Fletcher, Tom Hambridge and Candice Ivory.
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This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay takes us roadtripping on Route 66 and Highway 61 because he's got the key to the highway! We’ll be riding in style in a Cadillac, a Hot Rod Lincoln, a Chevy, a Pontiac and a Mercury with Howlin Wolf, Frank Frost, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Ray Charles and Chuck Berry.
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This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay spins some more material from Buddy Guy’s new CD, , some tunes by Catfish Keith who will be at the Wheatland Festival soon and he celebrates the birthdays of Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, Dinah Washington and Wynonie Harris.
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This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay debuts new CDs by Buddy Guy and Devon Allman. He also features songs written by Willie Dixon, shares some news about guitarist Mel Brown and remembers Flaco Jimenez and his work with the Texas Tornados.
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This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay features the work of soul songwriter Don Covay including covers of his tunes by Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Solomon Burke, Hank Ballard, Percy Sledge, Otis Redding, the Staple Singers and Chubby Checker.