Michael and the Messengers were originally the Messengers from Minnesota, before moving to Milwaukee and then Chicago where they were given their name by someone from the Motown "Rare Earth" label, even though there was by then no one called "Michael" in the band. The band members took turns at being Michael. They are classified as being part of the Garage rock genre.

During the course of their move the band members changed but it is claimed that they started out in Winona, Minnesota in 1962 as Greg Jeresek (aka Greg Jennings), also featuring guitarists Greg Bambenek and Roy Berger, keyboardist Chip Andrews, and drummer Jim Murray. While still the Messengers of Milwaukee they were rumoured to be: Michael Morgan, Peter Barnes, Bob (Mother) Cavallo, and John Hoier.

At one point in the history of the band, a completely new line up was used, so perhaps they should be treated as at least two separate bands: "Michael and the Messengers" and "Milwaukee Messengers".

In 1971 a Milwaukee variation of the band 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 (under the title "Ki ni naru onnna no ko"). The song is having a small revival since being used in an Ootsuka Seiyaku's "Amino Suply" sports drink commercial.

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