Michael Bendure

Tonic: The Funky Groove Show is produced and hosted by Michael Bendure ("Michael B"), a longtime funk fan who retired from a professional communications career in 2021 to concentrate on his music and artistic outlets.

Michael is also an avid abstract painter who displays and sells his colorful artwork around the metro Oklahoma City area. His love of funk music has spread into his paintings, some of which are part of an expanding body of works called Funk Art that are inspired by the feelings and lyrics of funk music (Prince and Parliament Funkadelic, for example). Some of his artwork has been incorporated into album covers by Redtenbacher's Funkestra.
He is an award-winning writer, photographer, and singer/songwriter who performs regularly throughout the Norman area in local bands Eventides, The HoHoHos, and others. Given his love of music and ties to funk and jazz, in particular, Michael B has served as occasional emcee of Norman's annual Jazz in June Festival.

When he's not researching or producing new Tonic or 40 Minutes of Funk episodes, he is often adding to his growing funk and jazz vinyl record collection.