User:Panyd/James Bryan Songwriter Producer

James Bryan McCollum (born March 29,1973), also known as James Bryan ,is a Canadian guitarist, songwriter and music producer.

He first gained fame as a member of 90s soul/pop band The Philosopher Kings and the animated dance/pop act Prozzak. From 2000 onwards, James also began writing and producing songs for other artists including : Nelly Furtado, Lisa Marie Presley, Divine Brown, and Bonnie Pink. In 2009, James moved to London,UK, and is currently based at Kensaltown Studios with fellow producer/writers Martin Terefe and Sacha Skarbek.

Philosopher Kings and Prozzak
In 1992, James joined The Philosopher Kings. All accomplished musicians, the group gained notoriety for their energetic live performances and in 1993 were signed to Sony Music Canada.

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The band released their self-titled début album in 1994, reaching gold sales in Canada and winning a Juno award for Best New Group in 1996. Their second album, 'Famous Rich and Beautiful" followed in 1996, and reached platinum status. The band toured extensively in Canada and the US, as well as Japan and Brazil. They performed alongside The Fugees, Al Green, Kool & the Gang and Joe Cocker.

In 1999, a live album "One Night Stand" was released,much of it recorded at a performance at Massey Hall in Toronto. In 2006, the band released their third studio album,"Castles", including the single "Castles in the Sand".

Despite working on many other projects, McCollum was still touring with the band as of 2007.9

But it wasn't until the release of the animated act  Prozzak in 1999, that James' songwriting and production skills came to the forefront. James and Philosopher King bassist Jason Levine created a story about two characters, Simon and Milo , on a quest to find true love, and set it to melodically infectious dance/pop. The debut album "Hotshow" went 4 times platinum and spawned 2 number one videos for "Sucks to be You" and Strange Disease".In 2000, the duo released their second album "Saturday People", which went double platinum in Canada .Also in 2000, Prozzak embarked on a sold out arena tour across Canada.

In 2002, a compilation of both albums , called "Ready Ready Set Go" was released in the US under the name Simon and Milo. A new single, "Get a Clue", written for a Disney film of the same name was included and reached number one on Radio Disney. The duo concurrently developed an animated sitcom pilot with Disney which never aired. A third studio called "Cruel, Cruel World" was released in 2005.

Production Company
After working together creating Prozzak, McCollum and Levine created their own production company, named Lefthook after a punch thrown by McCollum at Levine during a fight in the late 90s.2 McCollum has been credited as a producer for artists such as Kate Ceberano and Felicia Lily, who he worked with on her first album.5 9

Following Prozzak's success, McCollum and Levine produced and wrote songs for other artists under their production company Lefthook. In 2000, they contributed tracks for Canadian boyband B4-4's platinum selling debut, including the number one single "Get Down". Then they discovered  pop/rock singer Fefe Dobson, co-writing and producing her  worldwide debut in  2003, which reached platinum in Canada. Single"Bye Bye Boyfriend " reached top 10 on UK and Canadian radio,and"Take Me Away" and "Everything" reaching top 30 in the US and Canada.

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Work with other artists (in progress)
James was eager to break from the creative confines of his  partnership with Levine and soon began to write, produce and record with other artists. In 2000, he wrote and recorded on tracks by soul act Jacksoul, including the Canadian radio hit, "Never Say Goodbye".He later worked with soul singer Divine Brown, co-wroting and producing the number one radio hits , "Old School Love " in 2005 and "Lay it on the Line" in 2008.

But his most fruitful collaboration was with Canadian singer/songwriter Nelly Furtado.In 2000, James played guitar on her multi platinum debut Whoa Nelly, including a signature solo on single Turn Off the Light, and in 2003, on her sophomore album Folklore. In 2007 Furtado asked James to be her guitarist on the  international Get Loose arena tour.Highlights included performing at London’s Wembley Stadium for the historic “Concert for Diana”, playing  to over one million people in Paris on Bastille Day , the Vina Del Mar Festival in Chile,and tv performances on The Tonight Show and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. During this time ,James performed alongside: Sir Elton John,Seal ,and Alicia Keys. In 2009, James co-wrote and produced songs for Nelly Furtado's Spanish language album , Mi Plan , including international number one single Manos al Aire. He had the opportunity of collaborating with many top Latin artists such as Alex Cuba, Concha Buika, and Alejandro Fernandez. The album debuted at number one on Billboard's Latin Pop album chart, reached platinum in the US and earned a 2010 Latin Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Album.

In 2009 McCollum worked with Nelly Furtado on her Spanish-language album Mi Plan as a guitarist, producer and songwriter.6 He was given a Latin Grammy for his work on the album. 8

SOLO MUSICIANSHIP
James released a solo album, Beautiful World, in 2005 and toured across Canada supporting the legendary Tower of Power.In the tradition of Santana and George Benson, the album combined James' fiery guitarstyle with some guest vocal collaborations.Though not a commercial success, it was well received by critics ,with Canadian Music noting "Bryan takes our Global Village and remixes it on its ear, surprising the listener with an imaginative blending of styles". One of the guest singers was James' friend Alezandria Coldevin, and in 2007 the duo formed the band Sunshine State. They released their self titled debut on James' label, Umi Entertainment. The duo's upbeat mix of acoustic pop, latin and bossa, defined by James' guitar style and production and Alezandria's unique voice, soon attracted attention in Asia.In 2008, Dream Music released the album in Japan, where single "Day Job" was a number one radio single. Releases soon followed in Korea and Taiwan, as well as a trip to Seoul to perform at the Grand Mint Festival.

In 2005 Bryan released his first solo album, entitled Beautiful World.1

The album's critical reception was good.1 3

During his 2005 tour he was part of Canada's Beaches International Jazz Festival, where he performed to sold-old venues.7

CURRENT STATUS OF CAREER
In 2009, James moved to the global music hub of London, UK, with the encouragement of his new manager, Michael Dixon. He is currently based at KensalTown studios in west London, where he works alongside fellow  producer/songwriters Martin Terefe, Paul Herman and Sacha Skarbek. Since moving to the UK, James has worked with Rita Ora, Jessie J, Jason Mraz,Olly Murs and Backstreet Boys to name a few.In 2012,James co-wrote songs for Lisa Marie Presley's album Storm & Grace, including first single "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet", produced by T-Bone Burnett. He also produced and co-wrote songs for Malaysian star Yuna .And he performed with UK legend Engelbert Humperdinck at the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest in Baku.

In 2012 McCollum performed alongside Engelbert Humperdinck to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest.4

Discography
2012 - Lisa Marie Presley-Storm & Grace("songwriter") -Englebert Humperdinck-Love Will Set You Free ("guitar") -Allman Brown- Woman(single) ("Producer/songwriter/guitar,keyboards") - Yuna - Live your life("producer/songwriter/guitar, bass, programming") 2011- Charlotte O'Conner - For Kenny ("songwriter/guitar") - Katie Waissel ("songwriter") - Dotan- Dream Parade (songwriter/guitar) 2010 -Nelly Furtado-Best of("producer/songwriter/guitar") Alyssa Bernal EP ("songwriter/guitar") -Bonnie Pink- Dear Diary ("Producer/guitar" ) - Olly Murs -Thinking of Me single("songwriter") - Olly Murs -Please Don't let me go single("songwriter") - Nelly Furtado - Mi Plan Remixes ("songwriter/guitar")

2009 - Nelly Furtado - Mi Plan ("Producer/ songwriter/guitar") - Bonnie Pink- One ("guitar ") - Matt Dusk - Good News("songwriter") - Rankin Family - These Are the Moments ( "guitar") - Waylon - Wicked Ways("songwriter" ) 2008 - KellyLee Evans ("producer/songwriter/guitar,bass,programming") -Shakura Saida- The Blueprint("Producer/guitar") - Axel Whitehead - I Don't Do Surprises ("songwriter/guitarist" ) - Nicole Henry -The Very Thought of You ( "songwriter ") - Nayo - African Girl ( "producer/songwriter/guitar,drum and keyboard programming") – Divine Brown –The Love Chronicles ("Producer/songwriter/guitar") 2007 - Nelly Furtado- Loose ( the concert)(" guitar") Sunshine State ("Artist/producer/songwriter/ guitars, Drum and keyboard programming") - James Bryan-Beautiful World  remixes ("Artist/songwriter/ guitars") 2006 - Philosopher Kings - Castles ("Artist/Producer/songwriter / guitar") - Susan Cagle – The Subway Sessions ("songwriter") 2005 - James Bryan –Beautiful World ("Artist/producer/songwriter /guitars, Drum and keyboard programming") - Prozzäk- Cruel, Cruel World ("creator /producer/songwriter/ guitars, bass , drum and keyboard programming") - Divine Brown-Divine Brown ("Producer/songwriter/guitar" ) 2004 - Billy Clippert - Billy Clippert ( "songwriter/guitar" ) 2003 - Nelly Furtado-Folklore ("guitar") - Fefe Dobson-Fefe Dobson ("Producer/songwriter/guitar, drum and keyboard programming") 2002 - Jarvis Church - Shake It Off ("songwriter/guitar" ) - Simon and Milo- Ready Ready Set Go ("creator/ producer/songwriter / guitars,  drum and keyboard programming") – Kaci -I'm Not Anybody's Girl("Producer/songwriter/guitar") 2001 - Lenn Hammond -Lenn Hammond ( "guitar" ) - Yogie - Miracles ("guitar" ) 2000 - Adam Gregory - Way I'm Made ("songwriter") -Nelly Furtado-Whoa Nelly! ("guitar") –B 4-4 - B 4-4("producer/ songwriter/ guitars, drum and keyboard programming") - Jacksoul - Sleepless ("songwriter/guitarist" ) - Prozzäk- Saturday People ("creator/producer/songwriter/guitars, drum and keyboard programming ,vocals ") 1998 - Prozzäk- Hotshow ("creator/producer/songwriter/guitars, drum and keyboard programming ,vocals" ) - Maestro- Built To Last ( "guitar") - Philosopher Kings live album One Night Stand (" producer/ songwriter/ guitar") 1996 - Philosopher Kings-Famous, Rich and Beautiful( "co-producer/ songwriter/ guitar") 1995 - US, European and Japanese release of Philosopher Kings  -Philosopher Kings ( Columbia /Sony ) 1994 -Philosopher Kings-Philosopher Kings (" co-producer/ songwriter/ guitarist " )