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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” broadcast, Robert Barclay shares music by “Big Mama” Thornton and British blues pioneers, John Mayall and Alexis Korner who were recently honored by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as early influences on rock music. Robert also plays requests by Lou Rawls and Jimmy Smith along with a new CD by the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay will celebrate the centennial birthday of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer, Earl Palmer. We’ll hear his work with Fats Domino, Little Richard, Professor Longhair, Ray Charles, Ike & Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, Lou Rawls, Lloyd Price, Tom Waits and Smiley Lewis.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay features some new acoustic blues releases including work by Guy Davis, Catfish Keith, Eric Bibb, Jerron Paxton, Fiona Boyes, Nick Gravenites, Prakash Slim and Jontavious Willis.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast, Robert Barclay notes the passing of Kris Kristofferson who wrote some classic tunes covered by Janis Joplin, Ray Price, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. He also notes the death of songwriter Nick Gravenites who worked with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and the Electric Flag. And Robert spins new CDs by Lurrie Bell, Mitch Woods and Ronnie Baker Brooks.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay spins some new releases from Ronnie Baker Brooks, Mitch Woods, Duke Robillard, Bruce Katz, Vaneese Thomas, Fiona Boyes, Jovin Webb, and the Tas Cru Band.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay features three kings: BB, Freddy and Albert, three queens: Koko, Thornetta and Irma and several "Bigs" including Joe Turner, Walter Horton, Willie Mae Thornton and Jack Johnson.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint," Robert Barclay features singer Shemekia Copeland including his recent interview with her. She talks about growing up in Harlem as the daughter of bluesman Johnny Clyde Copeland and shares stories about performing at the White House with BB King, Buddy Guy and Mick Jagger. Robert also spins new releases by Chris Smither, Fiona Boyes, Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay celebrates some September birthdays including BB King, John “Juke” Logan, Jazz Gillum, Shari Kane, Hank Williams and Barbecue Bob. He also spins new CDs by Shemekia Copeland, Duke Robillard and Jontavious Willis.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay features some doo-wop, blues and R&B tunes by Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Slim Gaillard, Cab Calloway, Slim Harpo, Blind Blake, Larry Williams, Gene Vincent, Otis Redding, Don & Dewey and Little Anthony & the Imperials.
  • This week on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay previews a few of the bands appearing at the Wheatland Festival including Shemekia Copeland, Chris Smither, and Beausoleil. He also spins new CDs by Mark Hummel, Jontavisous Willis, Mick Kolassa, Colin James, Rory Block, Sonny Gullage, Chris Cain, and Amanda Fish.