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"I love my job. It was a childhood dream of mine to be doing TV weather. Since the third grade, this is what I wanted to do. I have a blast up there and I hope it shows."
Since coming to KMBC 9 NEWS in 1985, Bryan has quickly established himself as Kansas City's leading meteorologist. Bryan has put KMBC-TV on the "weather map" with innovative programs like "Guaranteed Weather," "EarthStation," "Weather-To-Go," "Bryan Goes to School (booked solid for several years)," and "Instant Weather Network." Fun, interaction and community outreach are key ingredients that make Bryan Kansas CityÍs favorite television personality. "I never know what to expect when I do an on-location weather report. Spontaneous reactions make my job fun and sometimes very challenging."
Recently Bryan was appointed to the National Chapter of the American Meteorological Society's Board of Broadcast Meteorologists, and named Chairman for that committee 1997-1998.
Bryan's awards include:
-- EMMY AWARDS (1984, 1993, 1997), NOMINEE (1985, 90, 91, 92, 95
& 96)
-- BLACK ACHIEVERS AWARD, SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE,
(1987)
-- KANSAS CITY MEDIA PROFESSIONALS HALL OF FAME (1991)
-- TEN OUTSTANDING YOUNG MISSOURIANS, MISSOURI JAYCEES (1992)
-- 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL, KANSAS CITY GLOBE NEWSPAPER. (1992-98)
Bryan's interest in weather began in Cleveland, Ohio when he was a child. As he studied weather, he realized that television was for him. In high school, he broadcasted weather reports for two Cleveland-based radio stations. After this beginning in radio, Bryan earned his degree in meteorology from St. Louis University. He got his start as a TV weatherman at 17. In 1978 he began working at KTVI, Channel 2 in St. Louis. Though only an intern, he was on the air after only eight weeks at the station as the weekend weathercaster. He remained in St. Louis for eight years before joining KMBC 9 NEWS. "I'll keep doing TV weather until it is not fun anymore. That is a FEW more years down the road", Busby laughs.
A natural showman with wit and personality, Bryan's performing is not limited to television. Bryan is also the principal timpanist for the Civic Orchestra of Kansas City performing five or six times a year. Professionally, he is the solo timpanist with the Independence Messiah Festival Orchestra, playing in that group's annual performance of the Messiah at the RLDS Auditorium. He even performed with the Moody Blues (at Sandstone), the Kansas City Symphony and the Kansas City Percussion Quartet. He is also a private timpani instructor to many of the area's best student musicians. In addition to performing and teaching, Bryan is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Kansas City Youth Symphony, having conducted that group in Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College, Kemper Arena, the United States Pavillion at the 1992 World's Fair in Seville, Spain, and most recently in Carnegie Hall in New York City. Besides his Youth Symphony activities, Bryan has appeared as guest conductor at area community orchestras, bands and high schools.
In addition to his musical abilities, Bryan is known by friends to
be a terrific imitator of cartoon voices. As a matter of fact, he is the
voice of his own cartoon character Georgie Global¬, a feature that
is now appearing on the web, television and in newspapers across the country.
To further a hobby he began in grade school, Bryan plans to pursue a job
doing voice-overs when he retires from broadcasting.
August 28, 1999