There was a point, not too long ago, when Steve Burns was one of the most popular guys on television - at least among the preschool set.

From 1996 to 2002, Burns went on adventures with best friend Blue, the animated dog from the popular Nickelodeon show "Blue's Clues."

The duo played with Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper. They sang songs about the mail. They hung out with Blue's pal, Magenta. And along the way, Burns recorded clues in his "handy, dandy notebook."

But that all had to stop. Because behind Burns' green-striped shirt and pleated pants was a man who wanted to step out of his animated world and experience the life of a rock musician. So Burns handed the reins to on-screen little brother Joe (Donovan Patton), and armed with four demo songs, he left "Blue's Clues" to pursue his dream - even though he knew the odds were against him.

"There's a tremendous precedent for people who used to be actors that want to be musicians to suck," Burns says. "Not just to suck, but to do it in extraordinary ways.

"I'm not trying to negate the image that I'm coming from," Burns says just before losing cell phone reception as he travels through Indiana cornfields on a recent tour. "I'm not trying to kill 'Steve.' I'm not trying to deny my past. I'm very proud of it."

Embracing his past is a tactic that worked for Burns. It turns out Burns' favorite producer, Dave Fridmann, was a "Blue's Clues" fan. Fridmann held a "Blue's Clues" party for his child the night before he was handed Burns' demo.

Fridmann works with the Flaming Lips, a revered Oklahoma band known for dancing with big, furry creatures during live shows. Fridmann put Burns together with members of the band. It turns out the Flaming Lips and Burns share the same musical sensibilities. They both create pop songs layered with keyboard sounds and effects. They both make music that makes you feel like you're on a dangerous drug trip but safe at the same time.

Burns recorded his debut album, "Songs for Dustmites," with the help of Flaming Lips members Steven Drozd and Michael Ivins. Now, he travels around the country on a tour. Still, there are those who aren't quite ready to see Burns' new, rock star side.

"At every show there are three or four straight-up suburban soccer moms," he says. "I guarantee the last CD they bought had something to do with self help or ‘you are stronger than Oreos.' And they just stare at me thinking, 'That's the little man from 'Blue's Clues.'" And nothing I do now relates in any way, and I know I really disappoint those people. I feel really bad because they leave profoundly confused."

But Burns never set out to be a kiddie host. He grew up in rural Pennsylvania and got an acting scholarship to a nearby college, where he played guitar in a band. He later moved to New York City and slept on friends' couches while getting gigs like the 1-800-Collect voice-over and a role on "Law & Order" (as an autistic guy who dies). He walked into Nickelodeon Studios for an audition, sporting long hair and earrings, thinking he was there for another voice-over job.

When he realized he wasn't, Burns started jumping around. And the rest is TV history.

These days, Burns is trying out new material and getting ready to tour Australia, where his record is doing well.