The Wrens (R&B band)
Encyclopedia
The Wrens were a doo-wop
band from The Bronx
, New York City
. They are best-known for their song "Come Back My Love".
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 band 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 Mansfield). The piano player was Johnson, who provided the other session musician
s. However, he and the Wrens parted company soon after the session, and from then on Goldner used the Jimmy Wright Orchestra to back them. 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 Group Harmony Association's Hall of Fame.
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
band from The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. They are best-known for their song "Come Back My Love".
The Wrens began in the Morrisania section of the Bronx in 1950. Neighborhood friends Waldo Champen (tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
, usually referred to as "Champ Rollow"), Francis "Frenchie" Concepcion (tenor/baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
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 band last, and in 1952, he recruited two new members; tenor George Magnezid and bass James "Archie" Archer. They sang as a trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
in the community center of P.S. 99 for a couple of months before deciding to expand to a quartet
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
by adding tenor Bobby Mansfield. At the time, Mansfield was about fifteen years old and attending Morris High School
Morris High School (Bronx, New York)
Morris High School was a high school in the borough of the Bronx in New York City. It was built in 1897. It was the first high school built in the Bronx...
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
Freddy Johnson
Freddy Johnson was an American jazz pianist and singer who gained popularity in the 1930s playing mostly swing style....
at the old CBS building. The Wrens entered and won, and Johnson became their manager.
Rama Records
Rama Records
Rama Records was a record label founded by George Goldner in 1953 in New York City. It recorded doo-wop groups such as The Crows and The Harptones....
owner George Goldner
George Goldner
George Goldner was an American record label owner and promoter. He worked, amongst others, with The Crows, The Flamingos, The Cleftones, The Shangri-Las, The Teenagers, The Chantels, Little Richard and Lou Christie. He had a son named Cary and a wife named Grace...
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 Mansfield). The piano player was Johnson, who provided the other session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s. However, he and the Wrens parted company soon after the session, and from then on Goldner used the Jimmy Wright Orchestra to back them. 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 Group Harmony Association's Hall of Fame.