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Juke Joint
Sundays 8pm-11pm

Every Sunday night, the Duke of Juke, Robert Barclay, is in the house spinning a mix of acoustic and electric music from the 1920s to the present, including from the worlds of blues, soul, R&B, gospel and zydeco. 

Detroit bluesman Reverend Robert Jones (left) and bluesman Guy Davis (right) stand with Robert Barclay (center).

Robert 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.

Latest Episodes
  • This week on “The Juke Joint" Robert Barclay features blues recordings from the past 100 years including the work of Blind Willie McTell, Bessie Smith, T-Bone Walker, B.B, Albert and Freddie King, Little Walter, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Howlin’ Wolf and Ruthie Foster.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast the Duke of Juke, Robert Barclay, celebrates the centennial birthday of blues harp player, Papa George Lightfoot. He also notes the passing of Austin bluesman W.C. Clark, shares interview soundbites from Chris O’Leary, and spins new CDs by James Harman, John Primer, and Bob Corritore.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay notes the passing of Sun Records drummer Jimmy Van Eaton. He includes Van Eaton's work with Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Billy Lee Riley, Charlie Rich, and Warren Smith. Robert also shares his interview with blues harp player Chris O’Leary discussing his influences: James Cotton, Muddy Waters, Levon Helm, James Harman, and Tom Waits.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay spins the recent Grammy winners in the blues categories by Bobby Rush and Larkin Poe, along with gospel winners the Blind Boys of Alabama. He also shares new releases by Tinsley Ellis, Chris O’Leary, Danielle Nicole, Mike Zito, and J.J. Grey & Mofro.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” Robert Barclay offers a tribute to the late blues promoter and photographer, Dick Waterman. He shares his interview with Waterman which includes stories about Mississippi John Hurt, Sippie Wallace, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Son House, Skip James, Bukka White, Junior Wells, Luther Allison, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Otis Rush, and Mississippi Fred McDowell.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” it’s Mardi Gras. Robert Barclay spins records by Irma Thomas, Trombone Shorty, piano legends Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Doctor John, and Marcia Ball, along with the Neville Brothers, Clarence Garlow, Lee Dorsey, and Cajun, and zydeco music from Clifton Chenier, the Balfa Brothers, and Buckwheat Zydeco.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay features new releases by Chris O’Leary, Tinsley Ellis, Danielle Nicole, Mike Zito, Albert Cummings, Robert Finley, Kevin Burt, and JJ Grey & Mofro.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay features an evening of Louisiana blues, Cajun, and zydeco music. He includes music from CJ Chenier, Beausoleil. Katie Webster, Lazy Lester, Terrance Simien, Buckwheat Zydeco, Rosie Ledet, Chubby Carrier, John Mooney, and Steve Riley.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay celebrates the centennial birthday of James Moore, better known as Slim Harpo. He includes Slim's recordings along with covers by the Rolling Stones, James Cotton, Koko Taylor, Johnny Winter, Janiva Magness, Booba Barnes, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Lou Ann Barton and Billy Boy Arnold. He also debuts a new CD from Chris O’Leary.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay features gospel music along with songs from the civil rights movement for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday. This includes music by Aretha Franklin, the Staples Singers, Sam Cooke, the Swan Silvertones, Bob Dylan, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Dorothy Love Coates, the Dixie Hummingbirds, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Mahalia Jackson and, the Harmonizing Four.