I recently released an “I Remember Tampa” anthology, which includes most of the Tampa themed songs that I’ve written and produced, including many of the alternate versions of The song, I Remember Tampa. I have provided a link to where you can go to obtain digital copies of entire CD or individual copies of each particular song. I’ve also included a link where you can order an attractively packaged physical copy of the CD, which makes for a nice gift and/or collectors item.
The following links will take you to the proper sites:
To Order Digital Copies of Individual Tracks or All Tracks:
Many of these songs can be freely streamed on most digital outlets, including my YouTube channel, at https://youtube.com/user/baluja123, but the only source where they can be found as a whole is on the Bandcamp link above.
I recently completed a rewrite of “I Remember Tampa”, which I began working on earlier in the year. I wanted to create a keepsake for everyone who visits during Super Bowl LV. The original version of the song addresses a love for Tampa from the perspective of someone who has either grown up here, or has spent a substantial amount of time here, and laments the changes that have occurred, idealizing the past…longing for qa Tampa that no longer exists. The “new” version is more “for the moment”…written from the perspective of someone who visited Tampa, and fell in love with the city, the way she is right now. Gone from the refrain is “I’m a Tampa Native”, and in its place, “I’m in love with Tampa.” It addresses the visitor’s desire to keep coming back…frequently. The pics speak for themselves, describing why Tampa is so appealing…so lovable. They were all downloaded from VisitTampaBay.com. I also used some video that a friend of mine shot a few years ago. As a matter of fact, it was the year that the Republican National Convention was held here, so you will see a short clip that references it. I uploaded several versions of the song, with varying lyrical ideas. They are all available on the I Remember Tampa YouTube channel I created.
“This love affair was meant grow, this endless bound, now, don’t you know.”
I’ve written many songs, but this one will always have a special place in my heart. It’s the greatest gift that I can give back to Tampa for all the special moments and memories she’s given me.
I’d like to thank 970 WFLA’s AM Tampa Bay and their crew, Jack Harris, Tedd Webb, and Corey Dylan for reblogging I Remember Tampa yesterday. It was in May of last year that I originally posted the video on YouTube. In early June, it started skyrocketing in views after Jack mentioned it on his morning show and posted it on his blog. Since that time, it has been seen over 24,000 times, and that number has been steadily climbing every month. I’d also like to thank Dan Perez for posting it and identifying the sources of all the pictures on his wonderful Tampapix website, which is celebrating its 10 year anniversary this month. And, of course, I’d like to thank The Tampa Natives Show and its hosts, Mario Núñez, Sally Núñez, and Steve Cannella for inspiring the song through their efforts in preserving Tampa’s rich history, and for believing in my work enough to embrace I Remember Tampa as the show’s theme song. Last but not least, I’d like to thank all the fans and followers of these programs and sites for taking the time to view, comment on, and share the video. I know all this activity stems from our mutual love for this city. Something tells me that this video has only scratched the surface of potential views, and that as long as it remains archived throughout the web, future generations will gravitate towards it and keep coming back when they want to reminisce about the experiences here in Tampa.
No greater group of servers ever graced this universe.
Pictured here is one of the greatest assembly of servers in the history of fine dining. I’ve often compared this picture to that of an elite professional baseball team from the past. It has all the essential characteristics (including a few members of legendary stature) that you might find in one of those classic team shots on an old baseball card or in a collectible program guide. Tonight, one of those legends, Joe Roman, joins many of his former teammates, including my father, Miguel, at that big 5 Star Restaurant in the sky. Joe was a true Hall of Famer, not only in the service industry, but as a husband, a father, and a friend as well. He will be remembered by many as the singing waiter and Ambassador at Tampa’s historic Columbia Restaurant. But I will always remember him as a warm, loving godfather, who did his best to make me feel special whenever he’d see me. Coincidentally, his passing comes right before the holidays. Back in my younger years, the December 24th gatherings at his home in Ybor taught me my first lessons on what it meant to revere Christmas and Family. God bless you, Joe, and may your soul rest in everlasting peace.
Honorary Ambassador at the world famous Columbia Restaurant
Dan Perez has assembled and documented a wealth of information about the city of Tampa, and has made that information accessible through his very colorful Tampapix.com website. There you will find an endless stream of photos depicting life as it is and was in nearly every community that makes up this great city. You’ll find yourself being thoroughly captivated, entertained, and amused by the stories and pictures he’s posted. Stop by today, and browse through this amazing labor of love. It’s a virtual landmark that you’re sure to visit time and time again.
For the past 3 years, Tampa has been the beneficiary of a unique television experience specifically designed to celebrate and preserve the city’s colorful past. Each week, The Tampa Natives Show comes into the homes of thousands of viewers, in the form of a live broadcast that features rare pictures and/or video footage pertaining to carefully selected topics that appeal to those who were either born in Tampa or who have lived here long enough to call this city Home. For the most part, these topics lead fans through an invigorating trip down memory lane–one that leaves them feeling spiritually renewed by the end of what is affectionately referred to as “the fastest 60 minutes in cable braodcast history.” The show’s hosts are Mario Núñez, “Tampa” Steve Cannella, and Sally Núñez, aka, The 15 Minute Girl. With the aid of their phone correspondent, “Hello Dory” Antinori, they invite viewers to call in and reflect on the topic of the hour. You never know who will call: from Olympic Gold Medalist Brooke Bennett to legendary meteorologist Roy Leep…even Mayor Bob Buckhorn has chimed in to praise the show’s efforts. Some of the show’s more memorable moments have featured special guests, such as former pro baseball player and manager Lou Piniella, former wrestling champion Mike Graham, and author John Cinchett. What’s more, if you happen to miss the show, or you just want to see an episode again, you can visit TNS’s website at www.tampanativesshow.com and browse through their archives. There you will find nearly every installment that’s aired since day one. It’s a wonderfully addicting experience and one that seems to be gaining momentum with each passing season. The Tampa Natives Show can be seen live, every Thusday night, at 7:00 p.m., on Brighthouse 950, Verizon 30, Comcast 20, or on the web, at TBCN.org (click “Watch Us”). To get an idea of what the show is all about, watch the video of their popular theme song, I Remember Tampa.
The Centro of West Tampa was a branch of El Centro Español de Tampa of Ybor City, and was built using membership dues of cigar workers in Ybor City and West Tampa. Members could use either building for amenities such as a gym, casino (game room), cafe, health clinic, etc. Centro Español de West Tampa also included the Royal Theater where live stage shows were performed; later movies were shown in the Royal Theater. The building still stands as a vivid reminder of the architectual beauty that defined many of the community of West Tampa.
I remember Tampa back in the days when there were three major networks–ABC, NBC, and CBS–and viewers had very limited choices when deciding what channel they were going to watch. Usually, the decision came down to what your favorite programs were, or what movie was showing on any given day or night. That same principle applied to the morning, afternoon, and evening news, as well. Which family of newscasters did you prefer? Who were you more inclined to let into your living room. Here in Tampa, the choice was exceptionally hard to make. The 3 local stations were WLCY Channel 10 (ABC), WFLA Channel 8 (NBC), and WTVT Channel 13 (CBS). They were all equiped with popular and talented crews, and all handled the local news with optimum professionalism. But for me, Big 13 was the one I tuned into more often than not. There was Salty Sol, Andy, Roy, Hugh, Ernie, and a host of other familiar faces bringing us news, human interest stories, event listings, sports, weather, and entertainment updates on a regular basis. You could bank on the same faces, day in and day out, for years at a time, sharing their lives with you. You trusted them. You believed in the pinpoint accuracy of every word that came out of their mouths. And even though mind boggling technical advancements like remote contols and color t.v.’s were beginning to find their way into our homes, the news was still being delivered in a simple, straight forwartd, and figuratively speaking, black and white format. No tricks…no gimmicks…we relied on solid sources and they rarely proved us wrong. Those were the days: before the flood of channels and programs offering alternative points of views on non-newsworthy items invaded the airwaves; before the gossip columns that disguise themselves as newscasts started swaying viewers to their mindless mass communications chatter; and before legitimate newcasters compromised their standards of reporting to try to recapture the markets they lost to the soothesayers. Yes, those were the days, and they won’t be back again anytime soon. But if, by chance, you’d like to momentarily revisit the past, just to get a taste of how it was back then, you’re more than welcome to do so by clicking the following link to the May 17, 2012 archived episode of the Tampa Natives Show: WTVT Big 13. There are some very rare clips and photos featured in this episode. If you happen to be from the Tampa area, you will find them very intriguing. If not, it’s still fun to watch this look back at a time when you were guaranteed to be exposed to true broadcasting professionalism, familiar faces, and news you could trust.
Special thanks to Dan Perez and his TampaPix website…
Mike Baluja’s hit song, “I Remember Tampa” is used as the intro during the opening credits for The Tampa Natives Show, and again at the end, during the closing credits.
Dairy Queen, Nebraska Ave. at the Hillsborough River, Sulphur Springs, 1956 – Cinchett, Vintage Tampa Signs & Scenes. Photo at Tampa Natives on Facebook
John F. Kennedy JFK shaking hands in Tampa, Nov. 18, 1963 at MacDill AFB – Originally posted by Tampa Natives member Joey Donovan. May be by a photographer other than Tony Zappone. Photo at Tampa Natives fan page on Facebook
Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket sign with Dan Good in background, N. Florida Ave at Fairbanks St, 1962, The first KFC in Tampa – From Johnny Cinchett’s “Vintage Tampa Signs & Scenes.” Photo at Tampa Natives fan page on Facebook
Civil War Veteran Sylvanus M. Hankins Sr. with flag in a parade,1914 – Confederate soldier reunion parade in Lakeland, 50th anniversary, also celebrating the 30th anniversary of the incorporation of Lakeland. S.M. Hankins, holding flag, was the engineer on the first train through Lakeland to Tampa. Originally posted by Mark S. Hankins at Tampa Natives old group. Source is State of Florida Archives at: http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/34071 (Mark may have been the submitter to the archives.) Photo at Tampa Natives on Facebook
Phillips Field Thanksgiving Day football game, Plant vs. Hillsborough – Burgert Bros. This photo appears to be dated incorrectly. In 1967, the 22 story white Exchange Bank building would have towered above all buildings in the background. It was completed in 1966 and would appear in this photo above the goal posts. The hotel Floridan at 19 stories can be seen as the left-most skyscraper. Also, this is the only photo in the Burgert collection online that is dated after 1963. This photo looks more like others taken of Phillips Field in the 1940s. http://digital.hcplc.org/burgert/archive06/5913.jpgPhoto at Tampa Natives on FacebookPhillips Field at Tampapix – History of Tampa Stadium
Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory, 500 N. Howard Ave., 1962 – Burgert Bros. George Nelson Benjamin, a West Tampa developer and mayor, donated land for a public park in West Tampa which became the eventual site for Fort Homer Hesterly Armory. In 1922, the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County donated the land to the Florida National Guard. Construction of the armory began in 1938 and was completed in 1941, dedicated on Dec. 8, 1941 (the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor) http://digital.hcplc.org/burgert/archive14/13334.jpgPhoto at Tampa Natives on FacebookFt. Homer Hesterly Armory feature at Tampapix
River Shore drive-in restaurant, 1965, 8100 N. Florida Ave. “Good Food Is Our Specialty” Located on the north bank of the beautiful Hillsborough River and just before N. River Shore Drive, directly across Florida Avenue from the Sulphur Springs Water Tower. “Good food with a pleasant atmosphere.” This is the location now of Riverside Marine. Photo comes from the 1964 Hillsborean, HHS Yearbook. Photo at Tampa Natives fan page on Facebook
Get & Go drive in restaurant, 4801 N. Florida Ave, 1965 – GET & GO DRIVE IN, 4801 N. Florida Ave., 1965 Everybody enjoys a good hamburger and milkshake, and these highwaterin’ Hillsborough Terriers are no exception! This was the northeast corner of Fla. Ave. and Osborne. Photo comes from the 1964 Hillsborean, HHS Yearbook. Photo at Tampa Natives fan page on Facebook
Gasparilla Parade, women on float in front of Essrig’s Exclusifabrics, Downtown, Circa 1956 – Submitted to the old Tampa Natives group by unnoted member. Photo at Tampa Natives fan page on Facebook
Columbia Restaurant waiters, 1966 – Submitted to Tampa Natives by Mario Nuñez. His father is in this photo. So is Gov. Bob Martinez’ father, Serafino Martinez. See photo with many waiters identified at: Columbia Restaurant at TampapixPhoto at Tampa Natives on Facebook
Downtown cigar store interior with owners Margaret (Abene) and Joe Betancourt, 1946 – Originally posted by Tampa Natives member Joe Abene. Photo at Tampa Natives fan page on Facebook
B&B Super Market on Henderson Blvd. at Dale Mabry, 1950 – Burgert Bros. B&B stood for Bever and Bever. It began in Avon Park Florida with one grocery store in 1923 under the name B&B Cash Grocery. The founders were Charles D. Bever and his wife Charlotte H. Bever. http://digital.hcplc.org/burgert/archive07/6856.jpgPhoto at Tampa Natives on Facebook
Entry arch at Lois Ave. and Bay to Bay Blvd. marking the entrance to a subdivision at the 4100 block of Bay to Bay Blvd. circa 1950s – Submitted by Tampa Natives member David Fox, given to him by his stepmother Margie Bane Fox. Photo at Tampa Natives fan page on Facebook
National Auto Supermarket at 1711 E. Hillsborough Ave, with Maria Williams Trippe (owner’s daughter) in front of a Ford Maverick, a TV special, circa 1971 Photo at Tampa Natives on Facebook
Malios Steak House sign showing “Happy Birthday Bruce”, circa 2000 – Submitted by Tampa Natives creator Steve Cannella, photo by Bruce Krentzman Photo at Tampa Natives on Facebook
Tampa International Airport, 1957, The Latin Fiesta group going on a goodwill trip, waiting for their plane – Photo courtesy of Angelo Rumore, submitted to Tampa Natives by Steve Cannella. Photo at Tampa Natives on Facebook
Ayres Diner exterior front view, Seminole Heights, 4603 N. Florida Avenue, circa 1956 – Photo courtesy of Yvonne Colado Garren, photographed by her father, Hector Colado. Photo at Tampa Natives on FacebookPhoto at Tampapix
The Manrara building circa 1920s, 9th Ave. & 14th St. Originally located here was the Ybor Land Development office, a 2-storry gingerbread wood frame house built in 1887, the building in the photo became the office’s second office. It later became “Bien Publico Clinic” and later the A. A. Gonzalez Clinic. Now it is the Don Vicente Inn. Original source unknown Photo at Tampa Natives on Facebook
Barney Bungelupper (Jerry Martin) and Hector Hambone (Jack Jarvis) at a private birthday party – Submitted by a Tampa Native member who is in the photo. Barney & Hector did private parties for hire. Photo at Tampa Natives on Facebook
Egypt Temple Shriners band with director Murlin Leslie Price, 1921- Submitted by Tampa Natives member Kellie Jo Worley Starner. Photo at Tampa Natives on Facebook
I Remember Tampa 