Honorary Alumni Award

Robert, “The Duke of Juke” Barclay, hosts The Juke Joint every Sunday night on CMU Public Radio. He has been hosting the show for 35 years and spends numerous hours each week preparing these shows for broadcast, sharing his passion for the history of blues, soul, gospel, boogie-woogie, and zydeco music.

Robert and his wife Peggy Brisbane spent 30 years photographing the Central Michigan University Community, and they both retired in 2013. Together, he and Peggy photographically documented the history of WCMU’s Our Front Porch concert series for several decades. Robert has captured prominent events in CMU’s history ranging from professional headshots, iconic athletic functions, and University-sponsored special events.  His CMU collection was recently featured in the Clarke Historical Library, and his photos will continue to be cherished by the Central Michigan University community. 

Through the last three decades, Robert’s contributions to blues music have not been limited just to his radio show. As a professional photographer, he has also captured hundreds of musicians over the years which are published in blues magazines and CD covers. In 2004, he was awarded the Keeping the Blues Alive award from the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee, for his contributions within the field. In 2015, he received the Public Media Impact Award from the Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters for his outstanding contributions to Public Broadcasting.

Robert and Peggy have generously given to WCMU Public Media. They also support various areas on campus like Athletics, University Libraries, and the Fabiano Botanical Garden Endowment.