Reid colorful featured artist at symphony’s pops concert

The Bangor Symphony Orchestra made an inspired choice with Mike Reid as the headliner of its first Super Pops concert of its 97th season.

Although primarily known as a fledgling country act, the 45-year-old Reid showcased his versatility as a pianist, singer and songwriter Sunday afternoon at the Maine Center for the Arts.

Reid isn’t exactly a stranger to performing with symphonies. He was a guest pianist with several symphonies playing his pro football playing days with the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s come a long ways since those days, as he’s now best known as a Grammy Award-winning songwriter.

Reid, his arranger and guest conductor Frederick Morden, and the BSO provided the crowd in three-quarters full Hutchins Concert Hall with a lively variety of song styles. Both Reid and the BSO each had their own missions — to introduce each other’s fans to their type of music.

“We’ll be playing some songs I wrote along with some other favorites,” Reid explained. “If you’re into country music, you’ll know them. If you’re not, shame on you.”

Throughout his performance, Reid proved an entertaining frontman. In its first performance since the passing of longtime conductor Werner Torkanowsky, the BSO, under Morden’s steady hand, lushly enhanced the music of Reid and his piano.

Reid performed his own hit, “Walk on Faith,” along with several songs he had written: Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” Ronnie Milsap’s “Stranger in My House,” and Alabama’s “Forever’s As Long As I’ll Go.” He offered soulful renditions of Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and Irving Berlin’s “What’ll I Do?”

He also provided a playful disposition on the worth of country music, which he called the last great colloquial American poetry.

“C’mon down off those high horses, folks,” he advised concertgoers.

In the spirit of the season, Reid read a Dr. Suess-styled Halloween story, with the BSO providing appropriate sound effects. In the background, Morden donned a monster mask.

In the first half of the program, the symphony served up a stirring tribute to movie composer John Williams, which was composed of “Star Wars Medley,” “Jaws,” “The Empire Strikes Back, Suite” and “E.T.”