Bobby Mansfield, lead singer of The Wrens, dead at 76

Bobby Mansfield, lead singer for the quintessential 1950s New York street-corner vocal group the Wrens, died Sunday at the age of 76.

He was a lifelong resident of the Bronx.

The Wrens had a modest recording career, but cut one of the most enduring records in the vocal group genre, Mansfield's "Come Back My Love."

The Wrens' early career ended in 1956, but Mansfield helped reunite the group 30 year later. After a few more recordings, Mansfield became a member of the Morrisania Revue, which included singers from several different 1950s Bronx groups.

Like many of those groups, the Wrens first got together at Bronx Community Center 99.

Mansfield joined three slightly older friends who had already been singing together: tenor George Magnezid, tenor Francis "Frenchy" Concepcion and bass James Archer.

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Fred Johnson, who organized talent shows at the center, became their manager and landed them an audition with Rama Records, where they signed in late 1954.

"Come Back My Love" was their second record and became an instant vocal group favorite. A Baltimore group called the Cardinals recorded a cover version for Atlantic a few months later.

The Wrens broke up when Archer went into the Army. Mansfield recorded two songs that were designed to launch him in a solo career, but they were never released.

When the Wrens reunited in 1986 and appeared on the "Group Harmony Review" over WFUV, Mansfield recalled that the Wrens never made a lot of money, but enjoyed their relatively brief time in the spotlight.

They toured extensively along the East Coast, often appearing on package shows.

"It was a good time," he said. "When we weren't touring, we were rehearsing. We worked hard to get our sound right."

Visitation and a memorial service will be held Friday at Granby's Funeral Home, 4021 White Plains Road in the Bronx.