Biography
Goshen, Indiana psych-folk outfit These Vizitors came together in 1965 when siblings Rick and Tom Curtis, both singers and guitarists, joined forces with their brother Michael on vocals and bass, sister Patti on vocals and tambourine, and drummer Travis Rose. The band quickly built a loyal regional audience and even performed on WGN Chicago’s The Bozo Show before securing a contract with Capitol. In 1967 the members journeyed to New York City, where producer Phil Ramone oversaw five tracks; the most radio-friendly pair, “For Mary’s Sake” and “Happy Man,” surfaced as a Capitol single the following May. By then the group had relocated to West Palm Beach, Florida, and shared local stages with the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Jefferson Airplane. When the single failed to chart, These Vizitors disbanded, though Rick and Michael kept working in music.
In 1972 the Curtis brothers supplied original songs and vocals to Crazy Horse’s album At Crooked Lake, an association that earned them a development deal with Polydor. While in that orbit they met struggling duo Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks; the four musicians recorded two demos, “Blue Letter” and “Seven League Boots.” The former resurfaced on Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled 1975 album that introduced Buckingham and Nicks to the lineup, while the latter was reworked by Crosby, Stills & Nash into their 1982 hit “Southern Cross.” Meanwhile the Curtis Brothers—now comprising Rick, Michael, and Tom—released their own self-titled Polydor LP in 1976 and finished a second album for International Artists two years later, though that project never saw release. Michael later performed with later editions of the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield and spent twelve years in Hoyt Axton’s touring band. Rick Curtis suffered a fatal seizure in January 1995.
In 1972 the Curtis brothers supplied original songs and vocals to Crazy Horse’s album At Crooked Lake, an association that earned them a development deal with Polydor. While in that orbit they met struggling duo Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks; the four musicians recorded two demos, “Blue Letter” and “Seven League Boots.” The former resurfaced on Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled 1975 album that introduced Buckingham and Nicks to the lineup, while the latter was reworked by Crosby, Stills & Nash into their 1982 hit “Southern Cross.” Meanwhile the Curtis Brothers—now comprising Rick, Michael, and Tom—released their own self-titled Polydor LP in 1976 and finished a second album for International Artists two years later, though that project never saw release. Michael later performed with later editions of the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield and spent twelve years in Hoyt Axton’s touring band. Rick Curtis suffered a fatal seizure in January 1995.