Mike Pinera
Mike Pinera | |
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 Pinera performing in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Carlos Michael Pinera |
| Born | September 29, 1948 Tampa, Florida, United States |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter, producer |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Labels | Atco |
Mike Pinera (born September 29, 1948) is an American guitarist who started professionally in the late 1960s with the group Blues Image, which had a #4 hit in 1970 with their song "Ride Captain Ride". After the breakup of that group, he joined Iron Butterfly, and later formed the group Ramatam. Pinera was then the founding member of the band New Cactus, a later incarnation of the band Cactus. He was the lead guitarist for Alice Cooper from 1980 to 1982. He is currently performing with the Classic Rock All Stars.[1] Pinera met the band Renegade through their manager, Kim Richards, who also managed Pinera at the time.[2] They remained close friends and appear together in the television special "Renegade Live @ The House of Blues", which was filmed before a sold out audience at the Hollywood House of Blues.[3]
Career
Early years
Mike Pinera and his group Blues Image were co-founders and house band at Thee Image, a Miami Beach concert venue they opened and co-headlined on weekends.[4] Blues Image soon signed with Atlantic Records where they scored the major hit "Ride Captain Ride" which Pinera co-wrote and sang. Blues Image opened for Iron Butterfly during their Vida tour.
Pinera joined Iron Butterfly in 1970, and played on their fourth studio album, Metamorphosis. The album also featured guitarist Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt. The album reached the top 20. In 1975 Pinera played guitar in the band Thee Image, with Duane Hitchings (keyboards, synthesizer, keyboard bass) and Donny Vosburgh (drums).
Solo career
In 1978, Pinera's first solo album, Isla, was released. It was followed by Forever in 1979. Neither album achieved considerable sales, though Forever did give birth to the single "Goodnight My Love", which reached No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[5]
References
- ^ Mike Pinera interview in St. Petersburg Times http://www.classicrockallstars.com/biography/mike.html
- ^ See Richards Bio https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3249319/bio
- ^ IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343396/
- ^ Mike Pinera Biography, Official Mike Pinera website.
- ^ Mike Pinera in the Charts, AllMusicGuide.
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