in Smyrna, Georgia. The Cloggers were discovered in the late 1980s by an artists and repertoire (A&R) agent for Universal Records, then a new record label owned by record producer Jimmy Bowen. Executives at the label disliked the band's name and suggested that they change it. They chose the name Pirates of the Mississippi after a song they had written about Lowe, whom they thought resembled a pirate. The band's debut album was finished by 1988, but its release was delayed until 1990 due to Universal being bought out by Capitol Records' Nashville division. In the meantime, Alves co-wrote the singles "Time In" by The Oak Ridge Boys and "Southern Star" by Alabama, the latter of which went to number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in early 1990. He and McCorvey also co-wrote "Karma Road" for the group Trader-Price (who were also signed to Capitol by way of the Universal merger) on their 1990 debut album. 19901992: Pirates of the Mississippi and Walk the Plank In June 1990, after the merger of Universal was completed, Capitol released the band's self-titled debut album. Alves produced the album with James Stroud. Pirates of the Mississippi produced four chart singles on the Billboard country charts between 1990 and 1991. The first single selected was a cover of Hank Williams' "Honky Tonk Blues". According to McCorvey, the cover of "Honky Tonk Blues" was not originally intended to be on the album, but was added because label executives thought the other songs on the album were not strong enough to serve as a lead single. The band members chose "Honky Tonk Blues" because it was the first song they had performed together. Upon release, this song peaked at number 26 on the country charts. Although the follow-up "Rollin' Home" peaked outside the top 40, the album's third single "Feed Jake" became the band's biggest hit at number 15. The song received a music video directed by Deaton-Flanigen Productions. This was one of the first country music videos not to show the artist in it at all. "Feed Jake" was the band's most popular song with fans, and was described in 1993 as their signature song. "Speak of the Devil", the last single from Pirates of the Mississippi, also made the country top 40. Pirates of the Mississippi accounted for two awards for the band. These were Top New Group from Radio &