Songwriter Hugh Prestwood passes away

Thursday, September 26, 2024 – Hugh Loring Prestwood, who wrote hits for Randy Travis and Trisha Yearwood, passed away on Sunday at 82,.

Judy Collins discovered Prestoow and gave him his first hit, "Hard Time for Lovers," which was recorded in 1978.

Prestwood was born in El Paso, Texas, but ended up eventually in New York.

Randy Travis had a hit with "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart," which won BMI's Robert J. Burton award for Country Song of the Year.

"The Song Remembers When" was recorded by Trisha Yearwood and the Nashville Songwriters Association's Song of the Year.

Shenandoah and Alison Krauss ("Ghost in This House"), Highway 101 ("Bing Bang Boom"), Barbara Mandrell ("Where are the Pieces of My Heart"), John Conlee, Tanya Tucker, Don Williams, The Judds, James Taylor and Jerry Douglas all recorded his songs.

The late Michael Johnson recorded or performed many of Prestwood's songs, including his 1987 number one hit "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder."

Three of Prestwood's songs were nominated for Grammys in the "Best Performance" category: "Sound of Goodbye" performed by Crystal Gayle. "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" performed by Travis and "Ghost in this House" performed by Shenandoah.

In 2006, Prestwood was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters' Hall of Fame.

Prestwood and his wife eventually settled in eastern Long Island.