Hugh Loring Prestwood (April 2, 1942 – September 22, 2024) was an American Hall of Fame songwriter, whose work was primarily in

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

. He was discovered by

Judy Collins Judith Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939) is an American singer-songwriter and musician with a career spanning nearly seven decades. An Academy Awards, Academy Award-nominated documentary director and a Grammy Awards, Grammy Award-winning rec ...

, who gave him his first hit "Hard Time for Lovers", which was recorded in 1978. Prestwood has written several number one songs, such as

Crystal Gayle Brenda Gail Webb (born January 9, 1951), known professionally as Crystal Gayle, is an American country music singer widely known for her 1977 hit " Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". Initially, Gayle's management and record label were the same ...

's " The Sound of Goodbye" and

Randy Travis Randy Bruce Traywick (born May 4, 1959), known professionally as Randy Travis, is an American country and gospel music singer and songwriter, as well as a film and television actor. Active since 1979, he has recorded over 20 studio albums and ...

's " Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart", which won BMI's Robert J. Burton award for Country Song of the Year. Prestwood’s song, “The Song Remembers When”, recorded by

Trisha Yearwood Patricia Lynn Yearwood (born September 19, 1964) is an American country singer. She rose to fame with her 1991 debut single "She's in Love with the Boy", which became a number one hit on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Hot Country Songs ...

, was picked as the Nashville Songwriters Association’s Song of the Year and also won a Prime Time Emmy for “Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics. Other artists who have recorded his material include Shenandoah and

Alison Krauss Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer, fiddler and music producer. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of eight and recording for the first time at ...

(" Ghost in This House"), Highway 101 (" Bing Bang Boom"),

Barbara Mandrell Barbara Ann Mandrell (born December 25, 1948) is an American retired country music singer and musician. She is also credited as an actress and author. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, she was considered among country's most successful mus ...

("Where are the Pieces of My Heart"), John Conlee, Tanya Tucker, Don Williams, The Judds, James Taylor and Jerry Douglas. Michael Johnson has recorded or performed over a dozen Prestwood-penned songs, including his 1987 number one hit "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder"; Johnson's LP's ''That's That'', ''Michael Johnson'', and ''Departure'' each feature multiple Prestwood songs. Prestwood is also known for his song "Asking Us to Dance," which originally appeared on

Kathy Mattea Kathleen Alice Mattea (born June 21, 1959) is an American country music and bluegrass singer. Active since 1984 as a recording artist, she has charted more than 30 singles on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts, including four that reac ...

's album '' Time Passes By''.

Jimmy Buffett James William Buffett (December 25, 1946 – September 1, 2023) was an American singer-songwriter, author, and businessman. He was known for his tropical rock sound and persona, which often portrayed a lifestyle described as "island escapis ...

recorded "Savannah Fare You Well", on his '' Far Side of the World'' album. The song was not written, as many might assume, by Buffett for his daughter Savannah Jane, born 1979. Three of Prestwood's songs have been nominated for Grammys in the "Best Performance" category: "Sound of Goodbye" performed by Crystal Gayle. "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" performed by Randy Travis. "Ghost in this House" performed by Shenandoah. In 2006, along with Jimmy Buffett and Jim Weatherly, Prestwood was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. For over 20 years he taught Advanced Songwriting at Manhattan’s New School. Most recently, the English recording artist Rumer released her album, ''Nashville Tears - The Songs of Hugh Prestwood'' (2020). All 15 tracks of this album were written by Prestwood. Prestwood died from a stroke on September 22, 2024, at the age of 82.

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* * 1942 births 2024 deaths American country songwriters American male songwriters musicians from El Paso, Texas Songwriters from Texas {{US-songwriter-stub