Mike Pinera died of liver failure on November 20, 2024, at the age of 76.
Joe Lala died of complications from lung cancer on March 18, 2014, at the age of 66.
Kent Henry died on March 18, 2009, at the age of 60.
The various members of Blues Image went on to become parts of other rock bands. Bertematti later played and recorded with the New Cactus Band and toured with Iron Butterfly, Chi Coltrane , and Bobby Womack . Pinera also played with Iron Butterfly, New Cactus Band, Ramatam , and Alice…
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The group can briefly be seen performing ” Ride Captain Ride ” in the 1971 film, Dusty and Sweets McGee .
Pinera left the band to join Iron Butterfly in the fall of 1969, during the recording of Open , with Henry becoming his official replacement on guitar and new lead singer Denny Correll handling vocals. The band broke up after the release of their third album, Red White & Blues…
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Correll later recorded a series of successful contemporary Christian music (CCM) albums, helped expand the genre’s commercial appeal, and achieved airplay with several singles on CCM radio during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He died in 2002. Gary Dunham , who also toured with the last incarnation of Blues…
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The band moved to Los Angeles and signed with Atco Records , releasing their self-titled debut album in February 1969. Their second album, Open was released in April 1970 and included the single ” Ride Captain Ride .” Written by Pinera and Konte, it featured Kent Henry on guitar solo…
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Blues Image was formed in Tampa, Florida in 1966 by singer-guitarist Mike Pinera , singer-drummer Manuel “Manny” Bertematti, singer-percussionist Joe Lala , keyboardist Emilio Garcia, and bassist Malcolm Jones. They were later joined by keyboardist Frank “Skip” Konte when Emilio Garcia left the band to become a pilot. Blues Image…
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