Carlos Michael Pinera (September 29, 1948 – November 20, 2024) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer who started professionally in the late 1960s with the group Blues Image, which had a number 4 hit in 1970 with their song "Ride Captain Ride".

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, playing with such groups as Cream, Grateful Dead, the Yardbirds, The Animals, Frank Zappa and many more.

[2] He was one of the first guitarists to use the "Guitar Talk Box" which is featured on the song "Butterfly Bleu", which was written by Pinera.

In 1972, Pinera and Jimi Hendrix's drummer Mitch Mitchell formed the band Ramatam on Atlantic Records,[2] and was produced by Tom Dowd, who was quoted as saying this album was one of his all time favorites.

[2] The New Cactus Band consisted of Mike Pinera (vocals/guitar), Duane Hitchings (keyboards), Roland Robinson (bass) and Jerry Norris (drums).

The Forever album contained the single "Goodnight My Love," which spent eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 70 in February 1980.