Additional Coverage:
- 1968 Aretha Franklin Hit, Written by a 13-Year-Old Orphan, Ranked One of Her Greatest Songs Ever (parade.com)
Aretha Franklin’s reign as the Queen of Soul was undisputed in the late 1960s, a period when she consistently delivered hit after hit. In 1967 alone, Franklin’s powerful voice brought timeless classics like “Respect,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” and “Chain of Fools” to the forefront of the music world. Chicago DJ Pervis “The Blues Man” Spann famously bestowed upon her the regal title, recognizing her unmatched influence in R&B.
Among those eager to collaborate with Franklin was a young Brooklyn-born songwriter named Bobby Lance. Orphaned at the age of 11, Lance was raised by his much older sister, Fran Robins, a classical pianist who nurtured his musical talents by teaching him guitar. This early mentorship sparked Lance’s passion for songwriting.
At just 13, Lance co-wrote “The House That Jack Built,” drawing inspiration from the familiar nursery rhyme. With hopes that Franklin would record the song, Lance and Robins managed to get it into her record company’s hands.
However, their initial efforts were met with silence. Undeterred, they offered the song to rising singer Thelma Jones, whose version, unfortunately, failed to gain traction on the charts.
In a surprising turn, Franklin and her team later revisited the song, deciding to record it themselves. Released in 1968, Franklin’s rendition of “The House That Jack Built” quickly overshadowed Jones’ version.
It soared to number two on the R&B chart and reached number six on Billboard’s Hot 100. Notably, during her illustrious career, Franklin had only two songs that hit number one: “Respect” in 1968 and her 1987 duet with George Michael, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).”
Reflecting on Franklin’s impact, Bobby Lance shared with ABC7 after her passing in 2018, “My whole life musically changed knowing Aretha. She could do any song, she could do jazz no problem. She was a gifted person, there will never be another one like her.”
Following his success with Franklin, Lance secured a record deal and released two albums in the early 1970s. However, when radio play proved elusive, he chose a different path, dedicating himself to education.
Earning a Master’s degree, Lance became a respected middle school music teacher in Tarrytown, New York. He emphasized the power of teaching literacy through music, composing many songs for his students’ performances.
As he told The Hudson Independent in 2015, “All that time I’ve never stopped writing.”
In 2022, Lance recounted to his alma mater, Mercy University, the invaluable lessons he absorbed from observing Franklin at Atlantic Studios. “Sitting at Atlantic studios, I learned a lot watching her and how she would say things to the musicians and what she likes, and where to put the beat and the feel,” he recalled.
“She was much more than just a great singer. She really knew what she was doing.”
Lance’s contribution, alongside his sister’s, remains an enduring part of Aretha Franklin’s legacy. Rolling Stone honored “The House That Jack Built” as one of the Queen of Soul’s greatest songs, ranking it 25th among her top 50 hits-a remarkable distinction given Franklin’s extensive catalog of hundreds of recordings and 131 singles released over her iconic career.