The Alabama State Troupers was a big-band soul outfit formed by ex-Markey member Don Nix in 1971. Nix cut a solo album, entitled Living by the Days, for Elektra Records in 1971, and put together a touring group consisting of Lonnie Mack -- replaced by Furry Lewis -- Jeannie Greene, and the Mt. Zion Band and Choir. The group embarked on a national tour that took them across the South and West to California, initially to promote Nix's album, but the shows soon took on a life of their own, especially with Lewis -- a veteran bluesman with more than 40 years in the business -- opening the shows. In 1972, Elektra issued a live album off of the tour, The Alabama State Troupers Road Show, a 21-song double-LP set that captured some of the better moments from their tour. The group broke up soon after but was well remembered enough to get a live CD, Live for a Moment, issued in Australia in 2005. ~ Bruce Eder