Michael and the Messengers was an attempt to take advantage of the popularity of the group "The Messengers". Originally formed in Minnesota as a high school band, they were re-formed in Milwaukee at Marquette University

Marquette University

Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...

 by the original bass player, Greg Jeresek. The Messengers had regional hits on USA Records, and mild national success on Motown's "Rare Earth" label.

The Messengers started out in Winona, Minnesota

Winona, Minnesota

Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....

 in 1962 as a high school band consisting of: Greg Jeresek (aka Greg Jennings) bass, guitarists Greg Bambenek and Roy Berger, keyboardist Chip Andrews, and drummer Jim Murray.

In Milwaukee, 1965, The band consisted of Peter Barnes-lead guitar, Greg Jeresek-bass guitar, Jesse Roe-organ, Jeff Taylor-lead vocals, and Augie Jurishica-drums.
This group released a cover of "In the Midnight Hour

In the Midnight Hour

"In the Midnight Hour" is a song originally performed by Wilson Pickett in 1965 and released on the 1966 album The Exciting Wilson Pickett. It was composed by Pickett and Steve Cropper at the historic Lorraine Motel in Memphis where Martin Luther King, Jr. would later be murdered in April 1968...

", and, shortly after, signed with Motown Records

Motown Records

Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...

. They then moved to Detroit. They had a few releases with Motown that broke into the 'hot 100' nationally and toured with the Supremes

The Supremes

The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...

.

When the Messengers signed with Motown they could not promote nor follow up their successful release (Midnight Hour) on the USA label. At this time a Chicago DJ formed the 'Michael' and the Messengers group to cash in on The Messengers' success. This group put out a cover of "Just like Romeo and Juliet", copying the style of The Messengers. They broke up shortly after.

In 1968, several of the members of the 'Motown' Messengers left the group and, while still calling themselves "The Messengers", they became: Michael Morgan, Peter Barnes, Bob (Mother) Cavallo, and John Hoier.

In 1971, this group of Messengers reached number 62 in the US national charts with "That's the Way a Woman is." Perhaps due to the simplicity of the lyrics, this single was an even bigger hit in Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 (under the title "Ki ni naru onna no ko" 気になる女の子). This song had a small revival in 2005 in Japan due to its being used in an Otsuka Pharmaceutical

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.

, abbreviated OPC, is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Tokyo, Osaka and Naruto, Japan. The company was established August 10, 1964, and currently has approximately 27,000 employees worldwide. The company focuses on pharmaceuticals related to nutrition...

's "Amino Supli" sports drink commercial.

Songs

• "My Baby"
• "I've Seen You Around" Soma Records
• "Midnight Hour" USA Records
• "Hard, Hard Year" USA Records
• "Up 'til News" USA Records
• "California Soul" Soul/Motown Records
• "Window Shopping" Soul/Motown Records
• Gotta See Jane" Rare Earth/Motown Records
• "Just Like Romeo and Juliet" (New line up - Made famous on the legendary "Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968
  Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968
  Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era is a compilation album of American garage rock singles released in the mid- to late 1960s. It was assembled by Jac Holzman, founder of Elektra Records, and Lenny Kaye, later lead guitarist for the Patti Smith Group...
  
  " compilation)
• "That's the way a Woman is." Rare Earth/Motown (Michael Morgan - John Hoier)
• "I Gotta Dance"
• "The Letter" (the b side of That's the way the Woman is" in Japan)

External links

• Music Match "Michael and the Messengers" biography.
• Gary Myers, "Do you Hear that Beat (ISBN 0-9643073-9-1)"
• "Review of That's The Way A Woman Is"