The Fulfillment of a Dream, 40 Years Later

By Rodney Brown
Staff Reporter

Buffalo, NY natives Robert Nunn and Minister Eugene Coplin were blown away after learning songs they recorded and released more than 40 years ago would be incorporated in several motion pictures.

“I almost fell out my chair,” Minister Coplin said. “When Robert called from California to inform me that – not one, not two, but three – producers of major motion pictures were using our songs in their movies.”

Minister Coplin and Nunn formed the group Bob & Gene in the mid- 1960’s. The group released 12 songs over a three-year period (1968-1971) that fell short of attaining national or international attention.

“When our first song - a smooth ballad called You Gave Me Love was released in 1967, I envisioned our group becoming famous and traveling throughout the world, but it never came to be,” Minister Coplin said. “Our fame began in Buffalo and remained in Buffalo.”

Bob & Gene were signed to Mo Do Records which went bankrupt after the released of their final song- a remake of Marvin Gaye’s If This World Was Mine in 1971. “We never got the ‘dream album’ we desired,” said Minister Coplin. Mo Do Records was owned by Bob’s father, William Nunn.

Interest in the group’s music resurfaced in 2007 – beginning with a call from Daptone Records of New York City. The record company wanted permission to release the group’s first song.
“It sold well in New York City area,” Minister Coplin said. “A few months later, they called again to ask for permission to redo all our material (even songs that were finished but never released in Buffalo) and distribute an album and CD around the world.”

The reintroduction of the group’s music in the New York area led to their ballads being incorporated in Hollywood scripts. I Gotta Find a Way - a song written by Minister Coplin - is featured in Tyler Perry’s movie Why Did I Get Married Too”

Academy Award Winner Forest Whittaker also used I Gotta Find a Way - along with another track - I Can Be Cool - in the movie My Family Wedding with America Ferrera. In addition, Minister Coplin noted an Italian movie producer in Italy also plans to use You Gave Me Love in an upcoming film.

Bob & Gene’s dream to one day become famous musicians is becoming a reality after more than four decades. Minister Coplin feels he is being used in a Divine Plan engineered through the “Will of God” because their music is finally being recognized on the national stage by major producers in the film industry.

“In the beginning when the record company started calling, I also knew God was calling on me to step to the forefront,” Minister Copeland said. “I immediately got on my knees to pray and told the Lord to steer me and I would follow.”

In the late 1960’s a series of riots ravaged the City of Buffalo. Bob’s father promised the two young teenagers that, if they stayed out of trouble and didn’t get involved with the rioting on Jefferson Street, he would let them record at his studio.

“Bob’s father always gave good advice to the kids in the community,” Minister Coplin said. “During recording sessions we promised Bob’s father that we would also encourage our friends to stay out of trouble. Being around Bob’s father influenced and heightened our desire to work with the youth later in our lives.”

After the group split Bob Dunn landed a record deal with Motown and Columbia Records. He released a solo album before finally ending his musical career. He now owns a recording studio and record label in California. Dunn uses his studio to encourage kids to stay off the street by helping them pursue their dreams of becoming musical artists.

Minister Coplin and his wife Terriann are the founders of Project L.E.E. (Learning and Earning Experiences). Project L.E.E. is an attitude development program designed to reveal to students the impact that positive attitudes and good decision making will have on their lives.

The program fundamental objective is to teach youth how to think successfully about themselves and their futures. The program encourages them to observe negative attitudes and bad decisions that may exist in their lives and motivates them to change. Academic improvement, leadership development and more positive, mature attitudes in relating to peers, teachers and parents are the program’s goals.

Minister Coplin wants to expand the program in Rochester and throughout Western New York.
He has been teaching youths and educators for over 15 years as a paraprofessional.
Bob is emulating his father with his own record company and Minister Coplin is helping hundreds of youths to stay out of trouble.

“I believe God wants the group to fulfill the promise made to Bob’s father when we were teenagers,” Minister Coplin said. “God delayed our dream as teenagers and instead allowed both of us to establish careers that require direct interactions with the youth.”

In addition Minister Coplin stated God has linked the group and their music with current stars on the national stage such as, Tyler Perry and Forest Whittaker because it’s his divine plan to have the group used the new platform to instruct and motivate youths on a national level.

“God is saying I want you to start a movement,” said Minister Coplin.” He said the group’s mission also is to clean up music. “Music is a universal language,” he said. “Women need to be uplifted and respected through music.”

He noted in his classroom that girls are queens and guys are kings. “I create an atmosphere where they’re celebrated; not tolerated,” he said. I don’t give them chocolate, money or any other incentives in exchange for good behavior. I give them words of life.”

Minister Coplin explained that the national movement is about changing “words” in order to change attitudes of the youth. He believes it’s not so much about his music but to continue the movement to motivate youths to think successfully about their futures around the country.

-To find more about "Project L.E.E." visit the website at www.projectlee.org or e-mail: revgenecoplin@yahoo.com or call (716) 906-0375