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 notes the passing of Rudolph Isley of the Isley Brothers. He also spins new releases by Catfish Keith, Coco Montoya, Chris Beard and the Blackburn Brothers and celebrates the birthdays of two pianists, Willie Mabon and Hadda Brooks. -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay features singers known as "blues shouters" including several “bigs” such as Big Joe Tuner, Big Mama Thornton and Big Maybelle along with Wynonie Harris, Roy Brown, Jimmy Rushing, Etta James, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson and Jimmy Witherspoon. Robert also notes the centennial birthday of Jessie Mae Hemphill. -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay features a roundup of blues artists from Texas. He includes T-Bone Walker, Amos Milburn, Johnny Winter, Angela Strehli, Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan, Pee Wee Crayton, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Sippie Wallace, Freddy King, Marcia Ball and Lightnin’ Hopkins. -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay features the work of saxophonist King Curtis. He includes his recordings along with session work he did with Aretha Franklin, the Coasters, LaVern Baker, Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, the Clovers, Sam Cooke and Fats Domino. Robert also includes new CDs by Coco Montoya and Christone "Kingfish" Ingram. -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay features new releases from Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Bobby Rush, Coco Montoya, Chris Beard, the Blackburn Brothers, Mitch Woods, Jason Ricci, a tribute to Memphis Minnie by Candice Ivory and some soul music by the Marvelettes, Solomon Burke, Don Covay and James Carr. -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay notes the September birthdays of Roy Brown, Barbecue Bob, John "Juke" Logan, Charles Brown, B.B. King, Billy Boy Arnold, Shari Kane and Hank Williams' centennial birthday. Robert also notes the passing of Chicago blues singer, James Yancey Jones, better known as Taildragger and debuts new CDs by Tom Hambridge, Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps and Omar & the Howlers. -
This week on "The Juke Joint," Robert Barclay features blues kings like B.B, Albert, Earl and Freddy King along with Ben E. King and King Curtis. Plus, some blues queens such as Dinah Washington, Shemekia Copeland and Thornetta Davis. -
This week on "The Juke Joint" broadcast Robert Barclay features an evening of soul music. He includes Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, O.V. Wright, Etta James, Otis Redding, the Staples Singers, Sam & Dave, Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, Little Willie John and the Isley Brothers. -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay spins recordings by blues artists that did some busking during their careers. We’ll hear from Willie McTell, Rev. Gary Davis, Barbecue Bob, the Memphis Jug Band, Robert Nighthawk, Sonny Terry, Blind Boy Fuller, Lemon Jefferson, Snooks Eaglin and Ted Hawkins. -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay features new releases by Bobby Rush, Coco Montoya, Mitch Woods, the Nick Moss Band, Gaye Adegbalola, Duke Robillard, Monster Mike Welch, Nat Myers, Little G. Weevil, Bob Corritore, Candice Ivory, Govt. Mule, Willie J. Laws, along with Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones.
