The Kent graduate had no radio experience, but had played in a bluegrass and swing band, and had worked as an actor and voice-over announcer.
He split his time between his radio job, work as a salesman for a construction company, and acting in industrial films for General Electric and Sherwin Williams.
The station management wanted to add a third night of folk programming, but was having difficulty finding someone to host the extra show.
At the urging of station colleagues, Blum approached management with the idea of taking on the new night and rounding out a full-time schedule with work organizing the folk festival and other concerts.
[1] The station agreed, and in 1997 Blum became a full-time folk radio host and music programmer.