Growing up in Marion and McBain, Chris Reid – a 2015 McBain grad – became infatuated with music and technology at a young age.
He got to be really good at the video game, “Guitar Hero” and – at his dad’s and grandma’s suggestion – he took up playing a real guitar. He started playing the drums as a 5th grader, and these days he plays a little bit of everything, including guitar, bass, drums and keyboards. He’s turned that love of music into a YouTube channel –Youtube.com/@actualchrisreid – where readers can check out his original [and cover] music and videos.
Alexis England – a 2017 Marion grad – grew up in Marion and became mesmerized by books. And when she wasn’t lost in one of her books, she was either playing sports in school, or playing Canasta with her grandparents, Linda and Orlen.
The two found each other shortly after high school. The couple attended Northern Michigan College in Traverse City and were married in June of 2019.
These days, Chris works in IT for Cadillac Schools, and Alexis works at the McBain Library. And like many great couples, they share common interests: Books, Movies and Music.
Alexis has become a big supporter of Chris’s music, and Chris has found himself reading more books than he ever imagined.
We caught up with the couple recently where we learned a little bit more about their lives, and their story. We learned that Chris and Alexis Reid are certainly more than just a couple of faces in the crowd.
Marion Press: Where were you born and raised?
Chris: We were both born in Cadillac and raised in Marion. I lived in Marion but went to McBain Schools after 4th grade. I graduated from McBain in 2015, and Alexis graduated from Marion in 2017.
MP: What kept you busy growing up?
Chris: Outside of school was the music stuff; I played guitar and was in a couple of bands growing up. In school, I was in band class, but I also liked math class. Around 5th grade, music became a big part of my life – once I got into band class.
I was also into the game Guitar Hero growing up – a lot of people my age were into that. And I got to be pretty decent at it, and my dad and grandma were like, “You need to learn how to play the real guitar!”
MP: What about you Alexis? What kept you busy?
Alexis: At home, where I lived, my grandma and grandpa lived next door so I’d always go over to their house. We’d always play Canasta – it’s a really old game, and I played it with my grandma all the time. I read a lot of books during high school; a lot of young adult books, fiction… In school I did some basketball and some volleyball, and I was a track manager – I’d help Mr. Michell during track season. I wasn’t the best at sports! But I was on the team and I enjoyed it a lot; I liked it.
One of my favorite memories was probably in 7th grade when I was playing basketball. I made two 3-pointers, and everyone was like [set to the Alicia Keys tune] “This girl is on fire!”
MP: After high school, where did life take you?
Chris: Right after high school I went to Baker College for computer technology; IT stuff. I was in dual enrollment in high school, so I graduated from Baker about a year after high school. Then we both went to NMC in Traverse City – the college up there. And I was into music, so for fun – not even for a career or anything – I took a degree in music production and learned how to record music. I had scholarships and grants and stuff, and I wanted to learn how to do that before I got too old!
I started working for computer companies up in Traverse City, but then we moved back down here, and I work for Cadillac Schools now, doing their IT.
MP: What did you go to school for, Alexis?
Alexis: After high school, I went to NMC in Traverse City, and at first I wanted to do nursing. But I took my first anatomy/physiology class and decided that wasn’t for me! And then I decided to go for my associates in early childhood education.
MP: And that’s kind of the career that you went into, right?
Alexis: Well, I’m taking a break [from early childhood education] right now, but I was the infant/toddler teacher in Marion at Bluefish Early Learning Center when they opened. But then they closed, and I went and [taught at] Little Wheels in McBain for a while.
But right now, I’m currently working at the McBain Library. Like I said, I love books. I like connecting with the patrons, and seeing all the different types of books that they have, and the new books that come in. I also like talking with some of the older people that go there. It’s a nice place.
MP: Chris, what do you enjoy the most about working at Cadillac Schools?
Chris: Providing the best education possible for the kids up there. Everything’s on the computers now, so if I’m not doing my job good, they’re not going to be learning as good.
MP: And Chris, you have some pretty high-quality stuff on your YouTube channel, with the music and the video production. Tell us a little bit more about your music.
Chris: [The production of that] kind of goes right along with the IT stuff; it’s a lot of technology. I think technology has helped me with the production of the music stuff; it kind of all blends together. Everywhere I’ve worked they’ve had me do video stuff too, not just computer stuff.
I eventually want to get a band back together. We haven’t had any bands since Covid, so I’m hoping to form one soon. The music, I want to keep doing, but until I have a band I have to keep doing the online videos, myself. I have to record each part: I start with the drums, then do bass, and then guitar. I’m not really a singer, so I’ll usually have other people sing my songs; I’ll meet up with them, or we can do some of that online.
MP: You play a number of different instruments in your songs – where did you learn how to do all that?
Chris: I started with guitar first. In band class I played percussion, so I was kind of able to play the drums because of band class. And bass is a lot like guitar, and I started learning that around my senior year in high school. And the keyboard stuff comes from college, actually. We had to take a couple of classes on that, so I learned the keyboards there. And from there it was just a lot of practice. Back when I was in school I was able to practice hours a day – not so much anymore.
MP: What do you enjoy the most about living in this part of northern Michigan?
Chris: Just getting to know people; it’s a smaller town. We enjoy the nature, going on hikes – and we don’t have natural disasters up here. We have to deal with winter, but that’s better than having to deal with earthquakes and stuff like that.
Alexis: I really liked the mill pond back in the day – I’m not sure what it’s like right now, but I really liked how it used to be. I liked the closeness of the community, and how easy it was to talk to everyone.
MP: Who have been your role models?
Chris: Probably my dad, Darwin. He’s always shown me the value of hard work, and where that can take you in life. He always worked really hard when we were growing up, and I kind of have that in me now, by seeing him do that.
Alexis: Probably my grandma and grandpa – Linda and Orlen England. They’ve always supported me through everything and pushed me to be better. In school, my biggest role model was Mrs. Bontakoe – Pamela Bontakoe. She really helped me figure out what I wanted to do in life. When you’re a senior, there’s a point where you’re like, “I don’t know what to do with my life; there’s so much going on…” And she helped guide me [through that].
MP: What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Chris: I don’t know the exact quote, or who said it, but it’s something like, “Life begins when you go outside of your comfort zone.” I would say that’s very true with a lot of things. It was on a random poster when I was at NMC, and that just stuck out to me when I read that.
Alexis: I actually like the quote that Christopher gave, and I relate to it. Growing up in the small town of Marion, it was really hard to move to the bigger city. It was really out of my comfort zone, but I’m glad that I did it. I really liked it, and it helped me form who I am. In high school, I was really shy, but in college, I was an RA, a resident assistant – something that I never thought I would’ve ever done.
Thank you for featuring us!