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.
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
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This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay previews the 2025 Chicago Blues Festival, the world’s largest FREE blues festival. We’ll hear from Mavis Staples, Bobby Rush, Billy Branch, Thornetta Davis, CJ Chenier, Johnny Rawls, Lurrie Bell, John Primer and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. Also the 75th anniversary of the Chess label and a centennial celabration of B.B. King. -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay notes the passing of Chris Youlden, former lead singer of the British blues band Savoy Brown. He also spins new recordings by Charlie Musselwhite, Terry Hanck, John Primer, Carolyn Wonderland, Southern Avenue, Janiva Magness, and Ally Venable. -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, 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. Join Robert for some post-war Detroit blues on "The Juke Joint." -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay spins a variety of tunes by Memphis Slim, Little Walter, Bobby Rush, Bernard Allison, Larry McCray, Southern Avenue, Linda Gail Lewis, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, and Reverend Peyton’s Band. -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, 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 on "The Juke Joint," Robert Barclay is celebrating the program's 40th anniversary. He will spin music by BB King, Muddy Waters, Johnny Bassett, Smokey Wilson, George “Harmonica” Smith, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Rod Piazza, James Brown, Tommy Castro and the Blind Boys of Alabama along with interview soundbites. -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay features a third helping of blues artists with connections to Arkansas. He includes Big Bill Broonzy, Dale Hawkins, Roy Buchanon, Sonny Burgess, Michael Burks, BB King, CeDell Davis, Roosevelt Sykes, Detroit Junior, and Junior Walker. He also notes the passing of Detroit bluesman, Luther "Badman" Keith. -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay celebrates the birthdays of Johnny Clyde Copeland, Louisiana Red and Robert Lockwood Jr. He also spins some new releases by Janiva Magness, Tonny Castro, Reverend Peyton, Jimmy Vivino, Kid Ramos and the Daddy Mack Blues Band. -
This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast it’s the spring WCMU fundraiser and Robert Barclay debuts the new 40th anniversary tee shirt designed by Matt Ozanich. Robert is featuring an all-star lineup of blues talent including BB King, Howlin’ Wolf, Etta James, Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells, Shemekia Copeland and Sonny Boy Williamson. -
March is Women’s History Month, so this week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay features blues and soul music by Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Koko Taylor, Billie Holiday, Roberta Flack, Bessie Smith, Memphis Minnie, Maria Muldaur, Big Mama Thornton, and Tina Turner.
