Podcast Summary: "Butterfly in the Synth: Reading Rainbow’s Magical Theme Song"

Podcast: Twenty Thousand Hertz
Host: Dallas Taylor
Guest: Steve Horlick (composer, producer, performer of electronic music)
Date: January 12, 2026

Overview

In this episode, host Dallas Taylor delves deep into the story behind the iconic Reading Rainbow theme song. Special guest Steve Horlick, the song’s original composer, joins Dallas to share the surprising origins, secret techniques, and unique synth sounds that made the theme so memorable. The episode traces the creative process from an experimental New York studio through decades of beloved television, highlighting each reinvention and the enduring cultural legacy of a children's classic.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Birth of the Reading Rainbow Theme

• Steve’s Background & Patchworks Studio

  • Steve Horlick co-founded the experimental band Electronic Art Ensemble in the late 1970s, aiming to merge avant-garde electronic music with commercial projects.
  • Patchworks, Steve’s production company with Janet Weir and Dennis Neil Kleinman, was primed for unusual, synth-based work.
  • "At the time, there were very few music houses in New York City that did like crazy avant garde electronic music." – Steve Horlick [02:03]

• The Opportunity

  • In 1980, Patchworks was among about ten studios invited to demo theme songs for a new PBS kids show, Reading Rainbow.

Crafting the Magic: Lyrics and Composition

• Lyrics: Finding the Empowering Voice
  • Early lyrics centered on the butterfly metaphor but felt too "sing-songy."
  • Janet Weir reshaped them for energy and empowerment:
    • "So Janet took these lyrics and turned them into 'Butterfly in the sky. I can go twice as high. Take a look, it’s in a book – a Reading Rainbow.' So Dennis had the initial inspiration and Janet had the concept that actually turned into the final theme song." – Steve Horlick [03:53]

Synth Wizards: The Signature "Butterfly" Sound

• Synth Gear Highlights

  • Key instruments: Fairlight CMI, Oberheim Four-Voice, and the Buchla 200 series.
  • The Buchla’s Multiple Arbitrary Function Generator (MARF) generated the fluttering, random-sounding notes emblematic of the butterfly’s movement.

• Innovative Sound Design

  • Steve sought a sound “so that when people hear it, especially kids... they’ll come running to the TV set and sliding themselves right into place.” – Steve Horlick [05:59]
  • Constructed a randomized sequence using five notes from a major scale, with specific weighting to emulate a butterfly’s erratic flight.
  • Replicated the original sequence live during the interview using a modern Buchla Easel. [09:11-10:34]

• Anecdote: Steve sold his original Buchla gear to Tool’s Danny Carey, not knowing its future value.

  • “What I didn’t know at the time was that Donald Buchla only made eight of those modules, and they’re pretty much worth what a Ferrari is worth today.” – Steve Horlick [08:42]

The Demo and the Selection

• The Original Demo
  • Sung by Janet Weir (now Steve's wife), the demo had “an islandy feel” but captured the magic. [10:43]
  • The producers picked Patchworks’ song over all other submissions.

From Demo to TV: Production Challenges

• Studio Hurdles

  • The final version required refined instrumentation and professional vocals.
  • Pre-MIDI era: “Everything was kind of running wild because I had no synchronization… a lot of fun and sometimes really, really frustrating.” – Steve Horlick [17:44]

• Finding the Voice: Tina Fabric

  • Singer Tina Fabric was chosen for her energy and powerful delivery, recording at M& I Recording in NYC.
  • “She had heard Janet’s demo, of course, and she just nailed it, man.” – Steve Horlick [18:30]

• Classic Version

  • Used from 1983 to 2000, featuring Tina’s vocals and the memorable fluttering synth intro [19:09-19:50]

Evolving with the Show

• Production Legacy

  • Steve handled all original show music, propelling his TV scoring career (e.g., Shining Time Station, The Puzzle Place). [20:01]

• 90s Update: The Johnny Kemp Version

  • In the late ’90s, a more “live band” arrangement with singer Johnny Kemp debuted.
  • The song key was changed to suit Johnny’s range, with a modulation at the end to fit legacy cues. [21:00–21:52]

• Chaka Khan’s Turn

  • LeVar Burton’s idea led to a new version featuring R&B legend Chaka Khan, who also unexpectedly played drums during recording. [22:05-23:16]
  • Studio mishap: Drums had to be re-recorded by a mystery session drummer.
  • “To this day I don’t know who he was. I would love to say thank you to him again.” – Steve Horlick [23:25]

The Revival: Reading Rainbow Returns

• After its 2006 conclusion, “Reading Rainbow” returned in 2025 as a digital platform, hosted by Michael Threes (“Michael the Librarian”), featuring a new theme rendition by Bukola and Anthony Anderson. [25:02-26:38]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• The Power of Perspective:

  • “It was about empowerment, you know, that song is all about empowerment. I mean, who doesn’t want to sing ‘I can go anywhere, I can be anything’... It was always sung from the perspective of the child.” – Steve Horlick [27:17]

• Cultural Impact:

  • “To this day, I hear people singing it on the street. I get emails almost every week from someone who talks about how it changed their lives… So the theme means a lot to me now.” – Steve Horlick [26:48]

• On Unexpected Success:

  • “I had no idea that it would become so beloved.” – Steve Horlick [26:48]

• On Chaka Khan’s Drumming:

  • “What I learned as we were working on this arrangement is that Shaka wanted to play drums. I had no idea that Shaka was a funk drummer. And she was amazing.” – Steve Horlick [22:49]

Timeline & Timestamps

• 00:00-01:11 – Episode intro; Dallas’ personal nostalgia; introduction of Steve Horlick
• 01:40-02:42 – Patchworks’ founding & landing the Reading Rainbow opportunity
• 03:07-04:23 – Lyrics development; moving from “sing-songy” verses to empowering phrases
• 05:05-09:11 – Synth setup, gear, and origin of “butterfly” sound
• 09:11-10:54 – Live demo of the theme’s synth sound; original demo version played
• 15:50-16:40 – LeVar Burton’s casting; Reading Rainbow pilot production
• 17:10-19:00 – Final version production; Tina Fabric’s recording experience
• 19:09-19:50 – Full original theme song aired
• 20:01-20:44 – Steve’s music legacy; expansion into other TV work
• 21:00-22:05 – 90s arrangement with Johnny Kemp; key change and modulation
• 22:05-23:16 – Chaka Khan version; her unexpected drum session
• 24:48-25:20 – The end of original show and the beginnings of revival plans
• 25:20-26:38 – Modern relaunch with Michael Threes and new theme rendition
• 26:48-27:52 – Steve reflects on the impact and message of the theme

The Enduring Legacy

The Reading Rainbow theme stands as an unforgettable example of how sound, melody, and lyrical perspective can inspire generations. As heard through Steve Horlick’s stories, its journey from a synth-heavy Manhattan studio to four decades of children’s hearts relied on both technical wizardry and a heartfelt promise: with imagination (and perhaps a catchy tune), you really can go anywhere.