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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” 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.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay celebrates Elvis Presley’s 89th birthday. He includes music from Memphis by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, Bobby Bland, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Isaac Hayes, Charlie Rich, O.V. Wright, Otis Redding and Booker T & the MGs.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay spins his favorite blues CDs from 2023. He includes work by Joe Louis Walker, Taj Mahal, Bobby Rush, Catfish Keith, Johnny Rawls, Sue Foley, Lil' Jimmy Reed, Coco Montoya and Monster Mike Welch.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay spins music for the holidays. He includes tunes by Shemekia Copeland, CJ Chenier, Charles Brown, the Campbell Brothers, Louis Armstrong, Odetta, Roomful of Blues, Keb’ Mo’, Hop Wilson, Big Harp George and Lisa Biales.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay celebrates some late December birthdays including three great blues harp players Paul Butterfield, Sugar Blue and Rod Piazza. He also includes Bo Diddley, Professor Longhair, Lil Green, Esther Phillips, Joe Louis Walker and Eddie “Cleanhead" Vinson.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay spins some new CDs by Marcel Smith, Ghalia Volt, Robin Trower, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Robert Finley, Tom Hambridge, Jimi Hendrix and Mathias Lattin. He also celebrates the birthdays of Tom Waits and Big Mama Thornton.