War, West Virginia native Ward Darby (guitar, vocals) began performing country music as a teenager going on to do stints with Mel Street, and appearances on local (WV) TV and radio programs. Enamored with the emerging rock and roll scene in the mid-‘50s he later moved to Pittsburgh where he released records and performed with groups such as the Rocks, the Moore Brothers, and the Raves. On a trip to Baltimore, Darby met Charlie Daniels in a recording studio and they formed the Jaguars. The group consisted of Darby (lead guitar), Daniels (bass), Buddy Davis (drums), and Pittsburgh native Vic Catalano (sax, piano). The group performed Top-40 and country while touring from the Baltimore area to points in Texas. The Jaguars split up in 1966.
Daniels went on to a prolific music career. Local lore has it that Van Dykes saxophonist Del Puschert loaned Charlie thirty-five dollars to go to Nashville. The longstanding good natured joke is that Charlie still owes Del the money. Charlie if you happen to read this, please give Del back his thirty-five dollars! [Ed. note: This story was told to me by Del. It was funnier to hear first hand! Sadly, both Del and Charlie are no longer with us.]
Darby also did quite well going on to play for artists such as Bill Black’s Combo, Ronnie Dove, Link Wray, and Roy Buchanan… He later moved to Nashville and worked with many popular country and pop artists.
Record release as by Charley Daniels & the Jaguars featuring Vic Catalano:
1966 Paula 246 Skip It / In the Middle of a Heartache
