Autographed Guitars Fit For A Star Offered At Annual Cancer Benefit

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—He's made guitars for some of the best musicians in the world, including Carlos Santana and Bon Jovi. On Sunday night you'll have a chance to own one of the guitars made by the Eastern Shore's Paul Reed Smith.

Ron Matz reports it's all part of a big benefit for the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

Some of the world's best guitars are made in Stevensville by Paul Reed Smith. In Baltimore Sunday night, he'll host his annual concert benefitting the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

"It's just an electric night of good music," said Paul Reed Smith. "I don't know anybody who's been to this event who hasn't walked out with a smile on their face. We're also going to be giving guitars away to people that come in. So just on a chance you can get a free guitar it would be worth coming down."

Guitars signed by the Ravens and Richard Petty are just two of the pieces that will be auctioned off.

"We'll be auctioning off about a dozen guitars," Smith said. "We have guitars signed by Bon Jovi, Carlos Santana, Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Ravens, among others."

Kimmel Cancer Center spokesman Michael Hibler says in 11 years the event has raised more than $2 million.

"It's about having our patients and families at these events, and seeing them being able to carry their heads just a little bit higher knowing there's an entire community of people out there helping them fight cancer," Hibler said.

There's even a Baltimore Ravens guitar signed by members of the team.

"The Ravens have been a phenomenal charitable resource for us here in Baltimore," Hibler said. "They are willing to go to any lengths to help us with our events. The Ravens stepped up. We were at the castle and the players signed the Ravens guitar. They're always interested in making their community a little bit better."

For Smith, it's all about giving back. After all, that guitar atop the Hard Rock is a Paul Reed Smith.

"The fact that Hopkins wanted to do an event with us is just extraordinary," Smith said. "When you say what does this mean to me, it means the world."

It's an extraordinary night to help others.

"It's a phenomenal time," Hibler said. "It's remarkable for us to have such a resource like Paul Reed Smith Guitars here in Maryland. It's unbelievable to see what this guy can pull off year after year. It's an amazing night."

Sunday night's concert features the group Vertical Horizon and begins at 7 p.m. at Soundstage on Market Place downtown. For ticket information, click here.