Seventy-three men sailed up…
The Blues Image was originally a trio from Tampa. Lead guitarist Mike Pinera, and Manuel Bertematti (percussion) were both born in Tampa. Drummer Joe Lala was born in Ybor City. They created The Blues Image in 1966, and their most popular song, Ride Captain Ride reached the top ten in 1970.
Mike Pinera attended Jefferson and Tampa Catholic High Schools. Along with starting Blues Image, Pinera also played with Iron Butterfly and Alice Cooper. Pinera is currently involved in the Real Rock TV network and a founding member of the Classic Rock All-Stars band. He now lives in Los Angeles.
Joe Lala graduated from Jefferson in 1965. After Blues Image split, Lala became a session drummer, and played with the likes of Chicago, CSN&Y (and without Y), The Bee-Gees, Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond, Ringo Starr, The Eagles, Jackson Browne, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Barbara Streisand, John Couger Mellenkamp, Eric Clapton, Dr John, Herbie Hancock and on and on. Unfortunately, tendonitis set in – not good for a percussionist, and so Lala remade himself into an actor, even playing the role of fellow Ybor citizen (and Jefferson graduate) Ferdie Pacheco in a TV movie about Muhammad Ali. Lala has returned home and still lives in the Tampa Bay area.
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