Known mainly for their 1970 US number 4 hit, ‘Ride Captain Ride’, Blues Image was a quintet from Tampa, Florida, USA. Formed in the mid-60s, they began as a trio featuring Mike Pinera (b. 29 September 1948, Tampa, Florida, USA; guitar/vocals), Joe Lala (b. Tampa, Florida, USA; drums) and Manuel Bertematti (b. 1946, Tampa, Florida, USA; percussion). In 1966 Malcolm Jones (b. Cardiff, Wales; bass) joined and the band took the name Blues Image. Keyboardist Frank ‘Skip’ Konte, originally from Canyon City, California, was enlisted in 1968, at which time the band relocated to Miami, Florida. The band opened their own club, The Image, where besides booking some of the top acts of the day they were able to provide themselves with a ready-made venue for the Blues Image’s performances. Signed to Atco Records in 1969, they recorded their self-titled debut album, which landed at number 112 in the US album charts. The following year, they released Open, which did not do well despite the inclusion of the band’s hit single. A third album was issued in 1970, with Dennis Corell (vocals) and Kent Henry (guitar) but minus Pinera (who briefly joined Iron Butterfly), but proved unsuccessful. Blues Image disbanded upon that record’s release, and although Atco issued two more singles, neither charted.
Some members of Blues Image started a new band called Manna. Konte joined Three Dog Night in 1974. Lala became renowned as a session drummer and percussionist, working with, among others, Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young, Manassas, Joe Walsh and Harry Chapin. Pinera joined Ramatam in 1972, then formed the New Cactus Band in 1973, which recorded one album for Atco. He then formed a short-lived band called Thee Image in 1975 and recorded two solo albums, before establishing a career in television and video.
