Submitted photo Steve Flynn, of Mount Airy, gives a "hats off" salute to Frank Sinatra. Flynn, a local singer, spends his days performing a classy tribute for the famed Sinatra. Flynn will be at the Fall Festival on Sunday to sing classic Sinatra hits for the crowd.

Mount Airy resident Steve Flynn is doing something a bit different. The entertainer and singer is refining his art and talent as part of his tribute to Frank Sinatra.

Decked out in a tuxedo (one of his four) and a black trim fedora hat, Flynn will sing songs of Sinatra with his voice mirroring the famed crooner.

His style, which he and some fans refer to as "Flynnatra," matches Sinatra almost perfectly. It's enough, anyway, for older generations who appreciate Sinatra tunes to be taken back to the past and for younger generations to gain a new appreciation for music that made history.

Flynn's singing has taken off from once a part-time hobby to a full-time dream job.

Flynn actually quit his job in January 2004 to take up singing full-time and has booked at least 160 shows this year, almost double his part-time bookings of 83 shows from last year.

An average month for Flynn is 15 to 16 shows.

Flynn had worked for a large insurance company, and said that his former employers were very supportive of his singing endeavors.

"They were sad to see me go," Flynn said of quitting. "But they thought it was the right thing for me."

Flynn, to this day, agrees. He said it's been his dream to sing professionally for a living.

Flynn said he did take a huge pay cut to pursue his dream, but he's gotten to the point where his new job is paying his bills.

"I'm enjoying life," he said. "There's a lot less stress," to his new job versus "answering 50 some e-mails a day and 27 phone messages."

Flynn began his singing career in November 2001 and still remembers one of the first people to give him an opportunity to perform: Olivia Schrodetzki from the Mount Airy Senior Center.

Flynn said he started singing just to see if people liked it, and his new career took off from there.

Even now, almost three years later, at least 50 percent of his business includes singing at nursing homes and assisted living and rehabilitative facilities, Flynn said.

The rest of his business is comprised of private parties, corporate functions weddings and anniversary parties. Flynn even does singing Valentines for sweethearts on Valentine's Day, or a birthday and other special days.

Flynn's done grand openings for stores, such as a clothing boutique in Philadelphia. He's traveled as far as Florida and as far north as New Jersey for shows, he said.

His ultimate goal is to move to Las Vegas and perform in shows full-time there.

But don't think Flynn is an impersonator of Sinatra like the hundreds of Elvises that flock to the entertaining city.

Flynn said he's not an impersonator or imposter. "I'm a person who does a tribute to Sinatra," he said. "It's a classy, realistic tribute to his music."

Flynn said he's always been interested in singing, and did so in bands throughout high school and the early years of college. He also plays rhythm guitar.

When he was growing up, he said, he was into the usual rock and roll tunes: Aerosmith and the like. "My parents say it took me long enough to play decent music," he said with a laugh.

Why the change to Frank Sinatra? Because of the aura Sinatra gives his audience, Flynn said.

"He had a confidence in his singing that bled through his music and to the crowd," Flynn said.

Flynn credits Sinatra's attitudes, swagger, diction and his command of his music for why he enjoys singing Sinatra tributes.

And while he performs Sinatra songs exclusively, he said he does throw in other Rat Pack hits, such as classics from Dean Martin. Flynn said he also gets requests for other music from Rat Packers and tries to accommodate his audience.

He said for many of his performances, after the applause, the audience is "dead silent, just waiting for the next song," Flynn said. "It's just flattering."

Flynn relies on word-of-mouth for the advertising of his business. "Word-of-mouth is always the best referral," he said. "For someone to hand someone else my card and say he saw him and you have to hire him," it's the best reference.

Flynn has over 130 Sinatra songs memorized which seems like a lot, but since Sinatra produced over 1,000 songs, Flynn said he's merely scratched the surface. He's continually learning new songs, and tries to change up his play list for himself and for the audience who may have seen him perform before.

But when asked if he has a favorite, Flynn responded Sinatra-style and quoted him, "Sinatra used to respond to that by saying 'don't ask me to choose between chocolate and vanilla pudding.' There are too many to pick one over the other," Flynn said.

"That's a long list, we'll be here all day," he added with a laugh.

Flynn showed off a signed photograph of Frank Sinatra, Jr., and said he got to meet the famed son at a show called "Sinatra sings Sinatra" in Pennsylvania.

"It was surreal to touch the flesh of a family member of Sinatra," Flynn said, adding that he was in awe of being able to be backstage for 10 to 15 minutes to talk to his singing idol's son.

"It's important that we keep this music alive," he said referring to the old music standards of the Rat Pack.

Those interested in seeing Flynn perform can stop by the Fall Fest in Mount Airy on Sunday, Oct. 3, (his birthday), or visit the West Diamond Grille in Gaithersburg on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 9 p.m.

Flynn has DVDs of his award-winning performance available for those interested in hiring him. Flynn won first place and a high score award at the National Talent Competition this past May for singing "That's Life.

He's working on his web-site www.flynnatra.com, which he hopes to be up and running in the next couple months. For more information call Flynn at 301-607-9116 or e-mail him at flynnatra@aol.com.