Lou Johnson (February 11, 1941 – May 1, 2019)[1] was an American soul singer and pianist who was active as a recording artist in the 1960s and early 1970s.

In 1962, Johnson signed as a solo singer with Bigtop Records, run by the Hill & Range music publishing company in the Brill Building.

[2] "Magic Potion" - the B side of "Reach Out For Me" was also written by Bacharach and David and became popular on the UK's Northern Soul scene, first being played at Manchester's Twisted Wheel club in the late 1960s.

Johnson signed to its successor label, Big Hill, and continued to record Bacharach and David songs.

[3] In the United Kingdom, a cover version by English singer Sandie Shaw rose to number one on the British singles chart.

[2][4] Johnson also recorded the original versions of several other Bacharach and David songs that later proved to be bigger hits for other musicians.

[2] In 1965, working with the production team of Bill Giant, Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye on the reactivated Bigtop label, Johnson recorded a vocal version of Sidney Bechet's instrumental hit of a few years earlier, "Petite Fleur", entitled "A Time to Love, A Time to Cry".