Whether it is a new twist on childhood tunes like I’ve Been Working on the Railroad or their own songs, Greg & Steve work at making their music fun.

The Railroad lyrics are accompanied by a wailing saxophone, while other songs blend in blues guitar music. In their latest album, Playing Favorites, calypso music flavors Down by the Bay.

Greg & Steve will bring their music to Boca Raton on Sunday, Oct. 4, with two concerts at the Florida Atlantic University.

The California duo published their first children’s music album in 1975 and have been entertaining concert audiences throughout the United States for 17 years.

Away from the stage, the musicians are Greg Scelsa, 44, and Steve Millang, 45. Both men are married and have three children each. Scelsa has a daughter, 14, and two sons, 17 and 5. Millang’s three daughters are 12, 14 and 15.

Millang’s daughters like their father’s music. “They think it’s really cool. They think it’s a good thing to do for children.”

Scelsa’s said his children also like the music, too. But during a concert, his 5-year-old finds it is “kind of hard to share dad with a bunch of kids.”

The musicians grew up in Southern California in the 1960s, where they played in separate rock bands and planned to make it big in the music business. During the day, they both worked as teaching assistants, bringing their guitars to entertain the children.

They became traveling musicians in the school system. Eventually, teachers asked for recordings to play for their classes.

Millang credits those teachers with helping launch their careers, which today include 10 children’s albums, a concert video and a growing concert schedule.

Millang said of their concerts: “We really don’t perform to the children. We are facilitating an event, giving them a chance to jump up and join in.”

The concert songs include plenty of audience participation, whether it’s clapping, dancing, singing or shouting, or joining the singers on stage.

“We try to make it inviting, so people can’t resist,” Millang said.

Scelsa said, “Our attitude on stage is a feel good kind of thing and we try to include everybody.”

After 15 years of live performances, the two have learned their young audiences are not much different than those of the early years.

“Kids are pretty much the same,” Millang said. “The kids are a bit more sophisticated, but dealing with them is pretty much the same.”

“I think MTV exposed them to more contemporary sounds,” Scelesa said. “We try to keep the music current.”

The main audience for Greg & Steve is 3 to 9 years. On stage, they work to keep everyone involved.

In addition to a successful music career, Millang and Scelsa have found other rewards in their work.

Sounding like the teaching assistant of long ago, Millang said: “One of the most rewarding aspects of this whole thing is when you hear of children who usually don’t jump in and participate in a group. But they will do it over and over with the music.”

“Some of our biggest fans are teachers,” Scelesa said. “That’s one of the biggest payoffs of this career.”

Greg & Steve’s future includes a new video. They are working on it now. Rather than concert footage, it will be a series of individual music videos. The duo is also working on a new album for release in 1993.

Greg & Steve’s concerts will be Sunday, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the University Center Auditorium at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton. Tickets are $8, $10 and $12.50 and are available at the FAU auditorium box office and at Storylines Bookstore, 658 Glades Road in Oaks Plaza, Boca Raton. For more information, call 338-3094.