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Superscript textBryan James

Bryan James (born April 22, 1962) is a published songwriter and professional model. He is best known as the 1Cosmopolitan Bachelor of the Month, with people skills, which bears a resemblence to country singer George Strait.

Early Life and Family

Bryan was born in the west Texas city of San Angelo. He is the second of 6 children bron to George Henry James, Jr., and Earlene (Williams) James. Bryan stated that his father was the most remarkable role model of patience and compassion toward others he has ever known during an interview for the John & Leeza Show. According to family records, Bryan has a heritage of Native American tribes Blackfoot and Cherokee, as well as European influence of England and Prussia.

In High School, he played the trombone with the marching band, and became involved with Rodeo. Eventually, he decided to quit the band, sell his trombone, a bought himself a 12-string guitar. Bryan's love of music naturally evolved, and he began writing songs.

Songwriting/Musical Career

In 1987 Bryan was invited (by Johnny Slate) to a songwriter's Pro-Am contest. Bryan along with other co-writers including Wood Newton, best known as the namesake for Burt Reynolds character on the TV show “Coach” and the song, It’s Not What I Did, It’s What I Didn’t Do recorded by Steve Wariner, took away first place in the contest with a song entitled "Far Cry From You". That prize gave him the recognition he needed to begin working with big-name writers in Nashville. Soon after, he had worked with an “A” list of writers and has since had songs published by Sony-Tree, API, and Rose Acuff. In 1992, Sony Music during recording contract discussions, he was involved in a tragic car accident. After a six week long hospitalization and working closely with a physical therapist for a year and a half in order to learn how to walk again.

This, however, did not stop Bryan from achieving music milestones. In 2001, he was given the opportunity to release a record in the Texas Music Market. His record, "Always Be Kind" part I, was well-liked by audiences and received 89% of station airplay. With plenty of radio, magazine, and newspaper interviews later, Bryan continued adding to his list of accomplishments in advertising appearances such as the Country Music Hall of Fame. He also appeared as the cowboy in music videos and commercials for Country Artist including Steve Azar, Wade Hayes and George Strait.

Bryan has maintained a modeling career (since 1986) when his Miles Pre-Voc students challenged him to meet, Miss Texas, Gretchen Polhemus. Gretchen later became Miss USA and 1st runner up in the Miss Universe contest. During her USO tours with Bob she would encourage Bryan’s music and suggested that he pursue a career as a model after he responded by telling her that his real dream was to take a "timeless picture".

Linda Thiess a model at the Kim Dawson Modeling Agency in Dallas, Texas introduced him to the agency. The "All American Cowboy" look didn’t fade as more edgy photos began to emerge in print work internationally.

Cosmopolitan named him "Bachelor of the Month" in 1994. He soon after won the John & Leeza show's "Have we got a guy for you?" contest. The amount of exposure he received during that time was overwhelming. Over 2,000,000 replies flooded his mailbox from women all over the country trying to get a date with Bryan. After that he appeared in many other music video, movie and print advertisements

Career in Education

Bryan completed a Bachelor Degree and a Master’s Degree in Education at Angelo State University. He began educating people at a very young age. During his first few years in college, he provided recreational, occupational, and music therapy services for mentally challenged adults. This was only the beginning of his life-long humanitarian mission. With encouragement and guidance from Dennis Freidrich, he later designed special education curriculum for ultra-high-risk students enrolled in the Miles Pre-Vocational Program. This was a special class created by Freidrich for students not successfully performing in any conventional education setting. Although a major challenge, it was a success. The Miles Prevocational Special Education Program achieved a graduation rate of 92% and the program grew at a rate of 200% per year. Bryan not only designed the program, he also taught the students, mentored teachers, co-taught inclusion classes and maintained public relations with the parents, the school board, and the local community.

Bryan in the Media

Media has ranged from newspaper articles with a local audience to international exposure from the Cosmopolitan feature in 1993. In an interview with San Angelo Standard Times Bryan stated that the effect a person can have in the world is not able to be comprehended by that person. The country ethic and benevolence that Bryan expresses in his persona is most often used but he has been seen as a contraction worker, business man and most often as a father figure. Bryan claims that the profound effect he witnessed after the Cosmopolitan Bachelor of the month release has been instrumental to his life time commitment of making sure his effect is good.

Charity

His love of people has never diminished. Instead, the more time that passed and resources he gains, the bigger his vision becomes. In 2003-2005 Bryan assisted in the creation of H4K, an organization designed to feed children throughout the world through sponsorship. By sponsoring ever increasing numbers of children with a real estate income producing portfolio that is always expanding the legacy will be created which is perpetual. To date children have been sponsored through World Vision and Compassion International. But Bryan suggests that any program that has efficiency and serves the starving children should be benefactors. Currently, he plans to grow the awareness of the foundation work and add income streams to the holdings through his association with the nation’s largest commercial real estate brokerage firm, Marcus and Millichap.

References:

Cosmopolitan,October 1992 issue, page 180