The Wrens


Main image

US vocal group from Bronx, NY.
Members: Bobby Mansfield (Lead) 26 Aug 1937 - September 15, 2013, George Magnezid (First Tenor) 22 Jan 1934 - 09 Dec 2003, Francis Conception (Baritone) unknown if alive or dead, Jimmy Archie Archer (Bass) ? - June 22nd, 1999
From their Wikipedia page:

The Wrens began in the Morrisania section of the Bronx in 1950. Neighborhood friends Waldo Champen (tenor, usually referred to as Champ Rollow), Francis Frenchie Concepcion (tenor/baritone lead), Archangel Archie Oropeza (baritone), and Raoul McLeod (bass) sang together under this name for around two years. They slowly drifted apart.

Concepcion was determined to make the group last, and in 1952, he recruited two new members; tenor George Magnezid and bass James Archie Archer. They sang as a trio in the community center of P.S. 99 for a couple of months before deciding to expand to a quartet by adding tenor Bobby Mansfield. At the time, Mansfield was about fifteen years old and attending Morris High School in the Bronx. Oropeza was around the same age and Concepcion and Magnezid were already out of school.

In 1954, they heard about a contest that was being held by an arranger/pianist named Freddy Johnson at the old CBS building. The Wrens entered and won, and Johnson became their manager.

Rama Records owner George Goldner arranged a session for the Wrens that took place on November 21, 1954. They recorded four songs that day: “Love’s Something That’s Made For Two” (led by Mansfield), “Beggin’ For Love” (fronted by Concepcion), “Come Back My Love”, and “Eleven Roses” (both by Mansfield). The piano player was Johnson, who provided the other session musicians. However, he and the Wrens parted company soon after the session, and from then on, Goldner used the Jimmy Wright Orchestra to back them. James Archie Archer left in 1955 and was replaced by Joseph Rocky Washington, who later recorded in another doo-wop group, The Performers. Further recordings, including six single releases on Rama, were unsuccessful and Mansfield left in 1956 to pursue a solo career.

In 1998, The Wrens were inducted into the United In Group Harmony Association's Hall of Fame.
James Archie Archer died On June 22nd, 1999.

George Magnezid died on December 9th, 2003, In Westchester County, New York, Aged 69.

Bobby Mansfield died on September 15, 2013, in The Bronx, New York, aged 76.


ALBUMS


APPEARANCES +


Various
The Very Best of Doo-Wop
2021, 3xLP, Comp, Not Now Music Limited
Various
Let's Throw A Pajama Party Volume 1
2020, CD, Comp, Atomicat Records, ,
Country/Easy Listening/Rock & Roll/Jump Blues/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Sh-Boom
2019, CD, Comp, Mono, RM, Warner Music Japan, ,
Vocal/Soul/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Your Tender Lips
2018, CD, Comp, Mono, Warner Music,
Various
Soul Kings Classic Hits From Yhe Best Doo-Wop Groups Of The 60's
2017, LP, Comp, Broken Hearted Blues Recordings LTD
Various
Doo Wop, Vol. 1: Best Of 1953-1957
2017, 4xCD, Comp, Dlx, RM, Real Gone Music Company, ,
Doo Wop/Rhythm & Blues
Various
100 Doo-Wop Hits
2017, 4xCD, Comp, Not Now Music, ,
Doo Wop/Rock & Roll/Vocal/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Great Uptempo Doo Wop
2016, 2xCD, Comp, United Audio Entertainment, ,
Doo Wop/Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues
Various
The Very Best Of Doo Wop
2015, 4xCD, Comp, One Louder Digital Limited, ,
Doo Wop
Various
The Very Best Of Doo-Wop
2014, 2xCD, Comp, One Day Music
Various
Massive Hits - Fifties
2014, 3xCD, Comp, Rhino UK,
Various
Doo Wop Jukebox Hits
2014, 10xCD, Comp + Box, Documents, ,
Doo Wop/Rhythm & Blues/Ballad/Jump Blues/Rock & Roll
Various
Doo Wop
2014, 8xCD, Comp + Box, Cla, AP Music Ltd, ,
Doo Wop
Various
Young, Gifted & Black The Story Of Doo-Wop
2013, 3xCD, Comp + Box, Go Entertain
Various
Dreamboats And Petticoats At The Hop
2013, 2xCD, Comp, Universal Music TV, EMI TV
Various
American Heartbreakers
2013, 3xCD, Comp + Box, Go Entertain
Various
Music That Inspired American Graffiti
2012, 3xCD, Comp, Not Now Music, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly/Doo Wop/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Blue Moon - 75 Good Old Fashioned Hits
2012, 3xCD, Comp, EMI TV, Rhino Records (2), ,
Rock & Roll/Doo Wop/Rhythm & Blues/Jump Blues
Various
Street Corner Symphonies - The Complete Story Of Doo Wop, Volume 7 : 1955
2012, CD, Comp, RM, Bear Family Records
Various
Jukebox Favourites - The Best Of Doo Wop
2011, 4xCD, Comp, AP Music Ltd
Various
Doo-Wop
2011, 3xCD, Comp, RM, Big3
Various
Lemon Popsicles & Strawberry Milkshakes Let The Good Times Roll
2011, 3xCD, Comp, Promo, Go Entertain,
Various
The Roots Of R'n'B
2010, 3xCD, Comp + Box, Go Entertain, ,
Ballad/Rhythm & Blues/Doo Wop
Various
Doo Wop - The Essential Collection
2010, 2xCD, Comp, Avid Entertainment
Various
Doo-Wop Mania Original Vol.1
2010, CD, Comp, Tick Tack, ,
Doo Wop
Various
Then....It Started With Doo Wop
2010, 4xCD, Comp, AP Music Ltd, ,
Doo Wop/Rock & Roll
Various
100 Hits Collection 50's
2009, Box + 5xCD, Comp, Disky
Various
It All Started With Doo Wop
2009, CD, Comp, Green Hill, Time Life Music, ,
Doo Wop
Various
Doo Wop The Greatest Hits 1954 - 1958
2009, 2xCD, Comp, Jasmine Records, ,
Doo Wop
Various
Music Inspired By American Graffiti
2008, 2xCD, Comp, Sli, Not Now Music
Various
Please Play My Song
2008, CD, Comp, Blue Label (3), ,
Doo Wop/Rhythm & Blues
Various
הקול דבש 2 (המסיבות והריקודים משנות ה-50)
2008, 3xCD, Comp + Box, IMP Records (3), ,
Rock & Roll/Vocal/Rockabilly/Rhythm & Blues/Easy Listening/Doo Wop
Various
It All Started With Doo Wop
2007, 9xCD, Comp + DVD-V + Comp + Box, Time Life, ,
Doo Wop/Rock & Roll
Various
Stateside Presents Doo Wop Classics
2007, CD, Comp, Stateside, EMI, ,
Doo Wop
Various
Golden Tear Drops Best Of Doo Wop
2007, CD, Comp, Compass Productions, Rhino Custom Products
Various
Jukebox Blackberry Boogie
2007, 2xCD, Comp, Disky, ,
Rock & Roll
Various
Collected Rhythm & Blues Songs - Coolest Cuts From America And Beyond
2006, CD, Comp, Disky, ,
Rhythm & Blues
Various
Collected Doo Wop Songs - Coolest Cuts From The Basement Of America
2006, CD, Comp, Disky, ,
Doo Wop
Various
Spotlite On Rama Records, Volume 3
2006, CD, Comp, Collectables
Various
Spotlite On Rama Records, Volume 4
2006, CD, Comp, Collectables, ,
Doo Wop/Rhythm & Blues
Various
The Encyclopedia Of Doo-Wop Volume 5, New York, Where It All Began
2005, 4xCD, Comp, Collectables, ,
Vocal
Various
Doo Wop 45s On CD: Vol. 19
2005, CD, Comp, RM, Collectables
Various
Doo Wop 45s On CD: Vol. 20
2005, CD, Comp, RM, Collectables
Various
Roots Of R&B
2004, 3xCD, Comp, Disky, ,
Rhythm & Blues
Various
Doo Wop For Slow Dancin'
2003, 3xCD, Comp, dig, Collectables,
Various
Doo Wop For Dancin' 5 CD Set
2003, 5xCD, Comp, Ltd + Box, Collectables, ,
Doo Wop
Various
More Red White & Rock
2002, VHS, NTSC, Rhino Home Video
Various
Red, White & Rock
2002, 2xDVD-V, TJL, Treasury Collection
Various
Doo Wop
2000
George Goldner
The Rama Story (Classic R&B, Rock 'N' Roll, Doo-Wop, Rockabilly And Pop From A Legendary New York Label)
1999, 2xCD, Comp, RM, Westside
Various
Doo Wop!!
1998, CD, Comp, Laserlight, LaserLight Digital
Various
Teenage Party / Pajama Party
1998, CD, Comp, Westside, ,
Doo Wop/Rock & Roll
Various
Doo Wop Sh-Boom
1997, CD, Comp, Flashback Records
Various
The Very Best Of Doo Wop
1996
Various
Doo Wop Diner Volume 1
1996
Various
The Golden Age Of Doo Wop, Oh What A Night
1995, CD, Comp, Kenwest Music
Various
Doo Wop Days
1995, 3xCD, Comp, Kenwest Music
Various
Forever Doo Wop - Volume 1
1994, 2xCD, Comp, Kenwest Music, ,
Doo Wop
Various
Spotlite On Rama Records, Volume 2
1994, CD, Comp, Collectables, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Doo Wop
Various
The Doo Wop Box
1994, 4x CD, Box Set, ,
Doo Wop
Various
Spotlite On Rama Records, Volume 1
1993, CD, Comp, Collectables
Various
Classic Doo Wop
1992, CD, Comp, Ace, ,
Doo Wop
Various
The Ultimate Doo Wop Collection
1992, CD-ROM, Comp, Sequel Records, ,
Doo Wop
Various
Harlem N.Y. - The Ballad Era - Part 2
1992, CD, Comp, Collectables, ,
Doo Wop
Various
Doo Wop Diner Vol 2
1992
Various
Tasty New Doo Wop!
1991, CD, Comp, Classic Artists Recordings, Classic Artists Recordings
Various
WCBS FM 191 History of Rock - Group Sounds Vol. 1
1991,
Various
Could This Be Magic? - 14 Original Classic Tracks From The Golden Era Of Cruising
1981, LP, Comp, PRT,
Various
Teenage Party
1958, LP, Comp, Mono, Gee
Various
Teenage Party
1958
Various
Doo Wop Jive & Stroll Vol. 7
LP, Comp, Club Records (8)
Various
Jerry Blavat Remembers The Fabulous Fifties Vol Four
LP, Comp, Old Gold Records
Various
Teenage Party
LP, Comp, Mono, Pro, Roulette
Various
Cruisin' Doo-Wop
3xCD, Comp, Not Now Music
Various
Teenage Party
LP, Comp, Mono, RE, Gee
The Wrens (2), Jimmy Wright & His Orchestra
C'est La Vie