Bob Popyk went from high school musician to piano store owner to marketing strategist.

Now, the Auburn native is delving into the legend of Ol' Blue Eyes with his new book, “Frankly - Just Between Us: My Life Conducting Frank Sinatra's Music.”

Written with Syracuse native Vincent Falcone, who was Sinatra's piano player and band director during the late 1970s and 1980s, the book tells the behind-the-scenes story of working with Sinatra, who died in 1998.

Popyk does not worry that there is a glut of Sinatra books already on the market. His book does not rehash the “Rat Pack” years.

“This is the golden years of Frank,” Popyk said. “This is when he recorded ‘New York, New York.' This is the softer side of Frank.”

Popyk, a 1958 graduate of East High School who grew up on Grant Avenue and attended SS. Peter and Paul School, had a band called The Silvertones. The Silvertones played local bars, restaurants, hotels, country clubs, and the Auburn Inn. His band also played at the popular dances at Emerson Park.

He studied with local musician Frank Mucedola, whom he credits with giving him lessons in life.

“When the parade passes, you've got to march. Nothing stays the same,” Popyk said. “If you don't keep up, you're going to be left behind.”

Popyk carried that lesson with him through life, wearing a number of hats to keep up with changing markets and whims. From 1964 to 1979, Popyk owned piano and organ stores, which is how he met Falcone, who was also affiliated with upstate music stores.

In 1980, Popyk started Bentley-Hall, a sales and marketing strategy company that has since evolved into a publishing company. He hit the lecture circuit as a speaker and began writing in 1985, when he discovered that the circuit was more lucrative if he were a published author.

“People will pay more money if you're a writer,” said Popyk, who has lived in Syracuse since 1960. “I found out it's a great way and a fun way to make a living.”

But Popyk harbors no illusions about writing. A sign in his office reads, “Writing without selling is like acting without applause.”

“I never wanted to write for the sake of writing,” he said. “To me, it's a revenue source. When you sell something that you write, that's the applause the actor gets.”

At a high school reunion in Auburn, Popyk had the occasion to talk with his former English teacher, Ray Waldron. They spoke about license that writers take nowadays and how Popyk likes to “break some of the rules because it's more how people speak.”

Waldron gave him some words of advice, “Before you can break the rules, you have to know the rules,” he said.

Popyk has written six books, most of them related to business. The Sinatra book took him two years to write, communicating with Falcone by phone from Falcone's home in Las Vegas.

Popyk still makes music - but only for fun.

“I've always been a musician,” Popyk said. “I came into this world as a musician, and I'm going to go out as one.”