The Michael Updegrove Band is a high intensity band delivering Blistering Funkified Blues, Blues/Rock Classic Rock or Rock....sometimes touching on country music with a twist. The band has been together in one form or another since the early 1980s and was formerly know as Magic Mike And The Wild Blues Yonder. This versatile band performs traditional blues but can also performs bluesy rock, Southern rock and A little Bluesified Country. We are not your typical blues band. We have a sound all own with a balance of original compositions and cover tunes creating a powerful blend which is sure to get your attention and make you want to hear more.... I think you’re going to like us!!!

MICHAEL UPDEGROVE - VOCALS AND GUITAR

2019 Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame Inductee Michael Updegrove, also known as "Magic Mike", is a self-taught guitarist who started playing gigs and winning contest at 12, playing as a paid professional thoughout Oklahoma by the age of 14. His band has had quite a bit of success playing in 17 states opening for several national acts. To date he has performed on stage with Johnny Winter, The B.B. King Band, (without B.B.) and others.

Johnny Winter once said he "had the feel" and “could be someone special". Pinetop Perkins called him "a pretty good guitar player". Lonnie Mack said he was someone he "would remember forever". Lowell Fulson said he was "the real deal".  He has been called "Oklahoma's Best Kept Secret" and "An Oklahoma City Blues Legend" in Southwest Blues Magazine.

ROY MIDKIFF - BASS, BACKING VOCALS

Roy Midkiff started playing bass the summer of 1969 in Texarkana, Texas. He moved to Oklahoma City in 1972 and stayed busy playing music. He was with the New World Band, in OKC and on the road from 1974 to ’79 ; with Ray Wiley Hubbard for a few months in ’79 ; in the house band at the Pirates Cove, in a Holiday Inn in OKC from 1980 to ’85 ; with Rumors Band in OKC and on the road from ’85 to ’98 ; with the Blues Saloon Revue Band at The Blues Saloon in OKC from ’98 to 2012 ; with Big ‘G’ Blues Band, Tyler Lee Band and various others in the following years.

Proud to have worked in bands with some people who went on to hit the big time: Curly Smith, from Texarkana, got with Jo Jo Gunne, Rick Springfield and Boston; Roscoe Beck, who played guitar in Texarkana, back in the ’60’s and then, in 1971, moved to Austin, Tx, picked up the bass and played for Passenger, Eric Johnson, Robben Ford, the Dixie Chicks and Leonard Cohen; David Gant, from Ada, Ok was part of the New World Band, then, got hooked up with Garth Brooks and is still his keyboardist.

 Currently, Roy plays bass as part of the rhythm section in The Michael Updegrove Band.

CHRIS THOMPSON - LEAD GUITAR, VOCALS

 Chris Thompson is a seasoned guitarist out of Oklahoma.  Born in Claremore, Oklahoma, he grew up in NE Ok. Chris started out playing bass with a band in High School. His love for blues came when he went to see a show at the Cain’s Ballroom that turned out to be Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. After seeing it,. he wanted to play blues on a Fender Stratocaster! He started to take his playing seriously when he moved back to Oklahoma in 2011. At that point he knew he wanted to play music and started the band called Stone Moses, with a couple of friends. StM was a lot of fun and a great experience. Playing with that band he got to meet a lot of great local bands and players, including MichaelUpdegrove. After Stone Moses ended, in 2017, At this point he had many chances to sit in with other bands and players, getting to play in some wonderful places. In 2019, after playing with Michael at numerous jams and then accompanying Magic Mike to the Dusk to Dawn Blues Festival at the OK Blues Hall of Fame in Rentiesville, Chris was asked to help Michael in his latest venture, The NEW Michael Updegrove Band and agreed. We are thrilled to have Chris in the band now. His style is a perfect fit for The Michael Updegrove Band. 

MARK ALLEN - DRUMS

Playing in various variety and show bands Mark honed his skills in rock, blues, funk and R&B.  At 23, he attended the Musicians institute in Hollywood CA to study with some of the industry’s most predominant drummers, Joe Porcaro, Ralph Humphrey, Steve Houghton, Eddie Rossetti and many more. Mark was fortunate enough to have some private lessons from Jeff Porcaro who played with Toto, Bozz Scaggs, Eric Clapton and others. While in LA he recorded many radio, television and album sessions. Mark has toured Europe to entertain our troops. In 2013 Mark moved to Oklahoma City where he has played the local circuit and joined forces with The Michael Updegrove Band in 2015.