Greg Coplen

“Greg merges honest lyrics with soaring melodies to create heart-stirring songs. He
makes my feet tap and heart sing about Jesus.”

~Max Lucado, Pastor and Bestselling Author - Max Lucado

San Antonio Express News

December 12, 2008

Greg Coplen is a singing songwriter who has faced down demons, battled back from addiction and is translating those experiences into songs. Coplen also is director of music at Cibolo Creek Church, 30395 Ralph Fair Road in Fair Oaks.
Tonight at 7, Coplen will celebrate the release of his “Coming on Again” CD with a concert at the church. Coplen is candid about his past and the difficulties that go with whipping bad habits. He has the songwriting and vocal chops to write and sing from-the-heart songs that are uplifting and inspirational and have extra impact because they're true. Coplen's songs, such as the title track, “Can't Blame It on You,” “I'm Lost” and “A Hand to Hold Onto,” run from mellow ballads to rocking selections, so they'll speak to a variety of listeners.

Jim Beal Jr.'s Night Lights covers the area music scene Wednesdays in S.A. Life and Friday in Weekender.
- San Antonio Express News

Behind the Mic- Greg Coplen




Frontpage

Written by Ben Schooley
January 02, 2009
Behind the Mic: Greg Coplen
By Elmo Lincoln


Several times per month, I receive a CD in the mail. It typically comes with a nice shiny press pack full of testimonials, pictures, and bio information about the artist. It tells me all the reasons why the musician (or band) is the greatest new act on the scene in 25 years, how nobody is as talented as they are, and that the face of the music map will forever be changed. In some ways, it’s as if I don’t even need to hear the CD, because obviously, there is no determination to make other than when the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame will induct the artist.

This month, I received an envelope with a CD by Greg Coplen in it. There was a disk full of images included, but little else. I flipped the CD over and learned that Coplen is a contemporary Christian musician. I normally dig some upbeat Christian stuff, so I tossed his CD into my laptop. With haunting pianos, a voice that is jam full of emotion, and a strong backing band, I was quite impressed with Coplen. I scheduled some time for us to visit, and returned to the rest of the CD. However, as I quickly learned about him, the music is only part of his story. In fact, there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye.

Growing up in West Texas, piano was a part of Coplen’s life early on, but not a major point of emphasis. “I was way more into sports. I played every sport, although tennis was a big thing for me. Eventually, I played in college.” Music stayed close by as well. “The music was something I loved doing, and I played here and there. But sports were much more important back then. I enrolled in Southwest Oklahoma, and eventually transferred to Baker University.” As Coplen stepped out into the world, he began to find that left to his own devices, life posed many challenges.

“When I was at college, I majored in parties,” Coplen laughs. I stayed in school for a year, but I broke my hand the first week of school. I broke it badly, and that ended the tennis experiment. I thought I was being real smart and hit my mattress when I was drunk and mad, and instead hit the frame. I went through a good depression, and really began drinking a lot. I didn’t go to class. Up until I left to go to college I was a good kid, and a good student, but I saw it start slipping away from me. I tried to walk on at A&M, but it didn’t work out. I knew the whole time that alcoholism runs in my family, and had a pre-disposition to that.” Coplen would make an attempt at cleaning up his act, to little avail.

“I flunked out of school, and I lost my scholarship. The summer after my freshman year of college I came home, and my parents were concerned about me. My dad asked me if I had a problem with drinking. I told him, ‘probably’. They figured treatment was the best thing, so I went to rehab.” Upon returning home, Coplen went right back to what he knew best. “I came back home, was living with my parents, and that downward spiral started all over again. I just continued to get worse. When my wife and I met up again, and had been dating a year or so, we wanted to get married and move to San Antonio and go back to school. She got pregnant a month after getting married. I was waiting tables, and playing in bars. It was just terrible for me. Drugs became a big part of my life. Pot was huge for me. That led to coke. For about a year, I was crashed. I dropped 35 lbs, and by the grace of God got away from that. I just kicked it. I’m pretty strong-willed, and at that point, I knew I had to stop the drugs or die. And hey, the drinking and the pot helped me!!”

As Coplen’s addictions began to grip him harder and harder, his health began to fail. “I spent a lot of time in ER rooms. I developed some huge health problems. But, I was raised in the church, and I was a believer, and I had a relationship with Christ. I had just CHOSEN to leave that behind. I just chose to not follow. I was very happy for my wife that she became a Christian, because I could see the evidence of what was changing. Alcohol had a huge hold on me, though. I’m battling the addiction during that time and what I knew was right.”

Coplen eventually recognized that changes were due in his life. “Every Sunday I went to church, and each morning it was like the pastor had been driving with me in the car, as everything was directed at me. I was hungover and tired one morning, and I went to the pastor at the altar, and I told him everything that was going on with me. I’ll never forget it. He just looked at me and said ‘Don’t be bullsh*tting me’. That’s exactly what I needed to hear. I love that moment. I didn’t want this anymore, I want my life to change. He prayed with me, we confessed, and re-committed my life to Christ. He began mentoring me, working with me, and guiding me. It took a few weeks, and I had a couple of slips, but I’m trying to get through life and come out on the other side. The 1st month was rough. It was a good month or two before I felt normal. I think that I thought I could just control the alcohol at that point. I had an opportunity to cut it off, but held on to the alcohol. I got involved with the church, but I held on to it. That went well for a couple of years. I tried to stay so busy I didn’t have time for drinking. It became apparent that I could work at the ministry level.”

Eventually working with Cibolo Creek Community Church in Fair Oaks, Coplen pursued his career in the ministry. “I eventually took a job in Colorado, hoping for a fresh start, but nothing improved. I couldn’t hide it anymore. I got sent to rehab again. There’s no job where you want your employees to drink and party, but for me, I was in a job where my personal and professional life simply clashed. You get drunk and do stupid things, and I couldn’t afford to do that. There were some major spiritual upheavals going on with me. I got out, was sober for a while, but my wife and I had a huge argument, and I ended up in the hospital that night. My wife picked me up, and I stopped at the liquor store on the way home. I was soon fired from that job. This was in 2005. We moved back to San Antonio, and moved in with my wife’s sister. They told me ‘you drink again here, and you’re out’. I drank that night. So I was then separated from my family for a while, working odd jobs. I then ended up in the ER again in mid-05. I was just on the floor of the waiting room shaking uncontrollably. I was just so sick. Beyond sick. I ate once a day, and drank the rest.”

Finally, and not a moment too soon, Coplen’s life changed. “It was August 8, 2005. I had detoxed at the ER for 3 days. I got out and Jeff, the pastor at Grace Point took me to a treatment center in Fredericksburg. Something happened, I’m not sure. In the coming weeks, months, and years…I’ve gotten my family back, my finances. Life is awesome. I’ve got my job back in Ministry. Maybe I had finally gone far enough crap, maybe I could finally admit my problems and accept them. God is going to use my story I hope. It was during that I finally said ‘Step up and be a man. Be a Godly man. Hand this over.’ And I did and I haven’t looked back. My recovery has been nothing short of amazing.”

Clean for the first time in a long time, Coplen slowly returned to his talents in music. “Musically, and in leadership, God gave me a special blend and mix of gifts that could be hugely uplifting, and I had just tossed them. I never took my talents seriously. I did a worship CD in Tulsa, and I was drunk during the recording sessions. Bobby Maller, came up to me last year and said ‘We would really like to put some energy behind you doing an album’. One thing led to another, and we went to Nashville to record.” That CD, Coming On Again, has garnered rave reviews and is catapulting Coplen up the contemporary Christian charts.

“The response has been extremely favorable so far, and I think that one of the things that’s happened is that I’ve been given the opportunity to tell my story and hopefully it is used for some good. God didn’t make me go through my story, but He allowed it to happen. I see people come to Christ because of my story. It’s not just an alcohol thing, it’s a sin thing. To hear the story of someone who was in it deep, and God led them out of it is extremely encouraging.”

Coplen has begun to map out his plans for the CD and for himself. Armed with a notebook of songs and lyrics, Coplen is finally able to turn his talents into a direction that will lead him to success, and bring others out of despair. “Doing the cd, and bringing these songs to life, is what I wanted to do with it. No matter what happens, I’ll always have the songs, and be able to see how much work God did with me. I look back at the past 3 years, and while He has worked with others around me, the work He has done with me is nothing short of miraculous. It’s been a special time between me and God, and I’ll always have that as a reminder of what God delivered me from. I have no idea what he’s prepared me for, but I’m excited to learn.”

Already writing for his follow-up CD, Coplen has hit a vein of creativity within himself that is deep. Whether you are a fan of contemporary Christian music or not, hopefully we are all fans of people overcoming their challenges and making the most of their talents. As Coplen continues to navigate his challenges, his perspective is one of faith and confidence. “I do think God has bigger plans for me. What I want to happen with the CD is to be in a position to know that whatever happens with the CD is God’s will. If that means staying local and ministering, I’m cool with that. I’m halfway through songs for the next CD, and there’s a new story being told in those songs about my growth. And they’re not just about me, but about man’s growth. It’s every man’s journey, and about man meeting God, and He being willing to carry them. I hope for huge things. I’m capable of being a huge success, and by success, I see lots of ministry being done through it. It’s a fine line. If I’m in this just to hear myself on the radio, I’m in this for the wrong reasons.”
www.gregcoplen.com


- eXplore Magizine

“To find a songwriter like Greg Coplen is big enough, but discovering an artist who writes his own lyrics, music, and performs with such deep emotion and conviction is extremely rare.”

~Shawn Simpson-Nashville Producer. - Shawn Simpson-Nashville Producer

“Greg's message comes from his heart and his true-life experience and what's so impressive is the quality and passion with which he delivers it!”

~Biff Watson (Biff has been featured in Guitar Player and MIX magazines, is past President of the Nashville Chapter of the Recording Musicians Association, now President Emeritus). - Biff Watson - Past President of Nashville Chapter of RMA

"The first time I saw Greg Coplen lead worship, I found myself singing his songs over and over in my head for days afterwards. He is a gifted songwriter and his lyrics have a sincerity that is fresh and inspiring."

~ Mark Lusk is the President/Chief Creative Officer of ONdO Entertainment, LLC and past Sr. Vice President for Warner Music Group - Mark Lusk - past Sr. Vice President for Warner Music Group

"Greg Coplen has a great story to tell. His music and performance reflect someone that has lived some hard times, but who knows the redeeming power of God. I encourage everyone who can, to hear his testimony in word and song".

~Barry Landis
President Landis Entertainment
Co-Founder, AxCES Partners
Past President of Warner Bros. Records Christian Division (formerly Word Label Group)
Christian Radio/Retail Weekly Magazine calls him one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in America and Worship Leader Magazine has selected him one of the 20 Most Influential Voices in Christian Music - Barry Landis - Past President of Warner Bros. Records Christian Division President Landis Entertainm