Two professors from Abington-Ogontz Campus did it their way.

A sort of tribute to Frank Sinatra, that is. After half a century of devoted listening, political science and American studies Professor Steven Petkov, along with American studies and English Professor Leonard Mustazza, found a way to express their appreciation to Old Blue Eyes by editing The Frank Sinatra Reader, which will hit stores on Sinatra's Dec. 12 birthday.

"The book itself came about because we both had a mutual appreciation of him," Petkov said.

It's a collection of 48 essays about Sinatra by different authors, including musicians such as Gay Talese and Harry Connick, Jr. Divided into four parts -- "Phenomenon," "Back on Top," "Swinging towards Retirement" and "Legend" -- the book encompasses Sinatra's seven decades of performance. "Phenomenon" deals with Sinatra as the teen heartthrob and "Back on Top" discusses his decline and return to popularity. The last two chapters analyze his retirement from show business in 1971 and his impact on America since then, Mustazza said.

Both professors are convinced Sinatra has had a variety of influences on American culture. Sinatra was America's first teen phenomenon, Mustazza said. But unlike some young idols who changed their music as they grew up, Sinatra remained true to his style, and his audience remained true to him.

He spoke to people in every decade with his music, even during the British Invasion of the 1960s.

"There's a sense he's singing his own kind of music, but speaking again to each generation," Mustazza said, adding that Sinatra influenced American culture through film.

Mustazza said many of his songs are included on movie soundtracks to "punctuate a romantic scene." Petkov pointed out how Harry Connick, Jr. sings "It Had to Be You" in the beginning of When Harry Met Sally, but at the climax of the movie, they use Sinatra's version.

"When you have to get to the romantic payoff, you go back to the master," Petkov said.

Another example of Sinatra's broad influence is reflected in the diversity of his admirers. Both Mustazza and Petkov have seen him perform numerous times, and the audience members "cut across the age and class spectrum," Mustazza said. Petkov agreed, saying some people bring little kids, but other fans "can barely move."

Gender doesn't make much of a difference in Sinatra-appreciation, either. In the heartthrob days, more women admired Sinatra, Petkov said. But as he grew older, his looks weren't as important as his music, and more men became fans. They admire Sinatra because he does what he wants on-stage and off Mustazza said.

Though he does not write his own songs, Petkov said Sinatra chose the best songs written by professional songwriters. These songwriters compose for interpretive artists like Sinatra, who turn the songs into hits, Mustazza added

Sinatra's voice made hits "New York, New York" and and "Love and Marriage" memorable because of his conversational tone, Petkov said. The invention of the microphone made this possible for Sinatra, he added.

Mustazza said Sinatra's voice is highly stylized but it appears to be natural, unlike opera singers, who sound unnatural.

"Sinatra sounds like someone talking," Mustazza said.

And out of all his hits, both Petkov and Mustazza said it impossible to pick a favorite. Instead, they said they just have tunes that are their favorite songs.

"There's no way to (pick just one)," Mustazza said.