• Article Photo. Rajj James performs a solo during the Guitar Jam Saturday.
    Rajj James performs a solo during the Guitar Jam Saturday.
  • Article Photo. Rajj James' guitar bears the signatures of many other musicians.
    Rajj James' guitar bears the signatures of many other musicians.
  • Article Photo. Ron
    Ron "Rajj" and Belinda James perform during the Jam.

The first thing you may notice if you see Ron "Rajj" James play is the writing on his guitars and guitar straps. 

The professional musician, who moved to Mount Auburn last year, has played as a back-up guitarist for many well-known bands, including War and Rare Earth. 

For more than 20 years, James has played with bands all over the nation. Along the way his guitar collection grew to more than 160. And many of those guitars now bear the signatures of other musicians with whom James has played. 

But even though those messages can be seen while James plays in private, he prefers not to say too much about them publicly.

"They are private messages to me from my friends," he said. 

James played one of those autographed guitars during his performances at the Todd Frank Guitar Jam Saturday in Vinton. He also sang one song with his wife, Belinda, who is a Cedar Rapids native.