Frank Nawrot, lead singer and guitarist for local band Absinthe, and a lifetime Grand Rapids resident, started playing guitar as a teenager.
He grew up in the Creston district and took lessons from long-time R.I.T. Music guitar instructor and Berklee College of Music graduate, Steve Lechtanski.
Now Nawrot writes all of his own music, plays dozens of shows per year in and around the Grand Rapids area, and has earned a degree in music from Grand Rapids Community College.
Nawrot says he bought his favorite guitar from R.I.T. many years ago and that the staff encourage him to bring it in anytime he has a problem to troubleshoot it for free.
"R.I.T. is my favorite music store," said Nawrot. "[They] just generally make you feel more comfortable."