Former Bengal turned country music performer to be special guest at Mentoring Plus Music Festival

Mike Reid , who went from playing defensive line for The Cincinnati Bengals to a long career as a successful and award winning country music songwriter and performer in Nashville, is the special guest for this year’s Mentoring Plus Music Festival.

The Mentoring Plus Music Festival is scheduled Dec. 8 from 3-11 p.m. at the Madison Theater , 730 Madison Ave. in Covington. Tickets are $25 and $35 with VIP tickets $50 and $70. Tickets are available at the door the day of the show or on the Madison Theater’s website – www.madisontheater.com – or on Ticketweb .

Based in Newport, Mentoring Plus is a non-profit mentoring program for at-risk teenagers in Northern Kentucky. Reid has performed at past Mentoring Plus Music Festivals through his longtime friendship with fellow musician Mickey Foellger of Fort Thomas, a retired Campbell County Family Court Judge and former prosecutor who has long been active with Mentoring Plus.

“Mike Reid is always magnificent, and for him to bring his time and talent is very much appreciated,” said Foellger, who will also be performing with the band, Spokes. “It will be great to play with him again.”

Reid has a successful and unique background. He is a Grammy Award winner, has written over 20 number one country songs, is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame from his playing days at Penn State and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and was a two-time NFL All-Pro during his five seasons as a defensive tackle with the Bengals.

Despite his success with the Bengals, Reid retired after just five seasons to pursue a career in music. He and Foellger met while playing music with mutual friends at a home in Mount Lookout. Reid played piano and Foellger was a drummer.

“Mike lived in Mount Lookout and knew a friend of mine named Danny Morgan that I was playing with,” Foellger said. “To unwind after games, Mike would come over and jam with us on Sunday nights. You knew right away he was a special talent and just a great guy.”

Reid, who studied music at Penn State, eventually joined The Apple Butter Band, a group that included Morgan and Foellger and ultimately toured with the legendary Beach Boys.

“Those were great days,” Foellger recalled. “Mike never forgot that this is where he got his start, and he comes back whenever he can to help us raise money for Mentoring Plus.”

Foellger will perform with Spokes, a group that includes Jeffrey Seeman of Nashville along with Doug Hills, Marcos Sastre, Johnny Fink, Gina McCann and Mike Grosser.

Others performing at the Music Festival are Jake Walz, Cliff Adams, Ben Walz, Betsy Lippitt, Jeff Henry Trio, and Webster and Devoto.

Mentoring Plus Music Festival

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