Hugh Loring Prestwood

Hugh Prestwood, born on April 2,1942, passed away on September 22, 2024 following a stroke. He was native of El Paso, Texas, and a graduate of the University of Texas/El Paso. Hugh Prestwood fell in love with music at an early age and learned to play the guitar at age 12. He taught 6th grade in El Paso before moving to NYC in the early seventies to pursue a singer/songwriter career. He was discovered by Judy Collins, who then cut five of his songs, including the hit “Hard Times for Lovers”. After that, most of Prestwood’s major successes would be affiliated with Nashville artists. His first #1 country hit came when Crystal Gayle recorded “The Sound of Goodbye” in 1983. He usually wrote by himself at a time when co-writing was increasingly prevalent in Nashville, therefore, he retained a distinctive songwriting voice. He was then signed to publishers including MTM, BMG, and Skyline Music.

Prestwood has penned #1 songs for Randy Travis, Crystal Gayle, Collin Raye, Michael Johnson, and Trisha Yearwood. Other artists who have recorded his songs include Anne Murray, Conway Twitty, The Judds, Highway 101, Alison Krauss, Kathy Mattea, Shelby Lynn, John Conlee, Jimmy Buffett, Jerry Douglas, James Taylor, Gene Watson, Barbara Mandrell, Sammy Kershaw, Lee Greenwood, Don Williams, and Tanya Tucker.

He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including BMI Song of the Year (“Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart” – Randy Travis); Nashville Songwriters Association’s Song of the Year (“The Song Remembers When” – Trisha Yearwood); and a Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics Three of Prestwood’s songs have had Grammy nominations in the “Best Performance” category: “The Sound of Goodbye” – Crystal Gayle, “Ghost In This House” – Shenandoah, and “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart” – Randy Travis In 2006, Prestwood was inducted into The Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame; an honor he said meant the most to him of his musical career.

For over 20 years he taught Advanced Songwriting at Manhattan’s New School. In 1983 he moved to Greenport, NY a small fishing village at the end of Long Island. There he met photographer Judy Ahrens, his wife of 37 years. “Ghost In This House”, self-released in 1999, was Hugh’s first album. “Fate of Fireflies” was his second self-produced album, was released in 2005. In 2007, Skyline Music Publishing released his CD, “All the Way On”, his first major studio album.

Judy Collins teamed up with Prestwood again and released his CD “I Used to be the Real Me”, on her Wild Flower Records in 2016.

In 2020, the English recording artist Rumer released her album, Nashville Tears – The Songs of Hugh Prestwood. All 15 tracks of this album were written by Prestwood.

In 2022 he moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where his wife’s family lives.

Prestwood leaves behind a legacy of beautifully written songs and a dedication to the craft that will continue to inspire songwriters and musicians for generations to come.

He is survived by his wife Judy Ahrens, of Lincoln, Nebraska, son Brian Prestwood, (wife Lori, of Fort Worth, Texas, their children, Brannon of Fort Worth, Texas, son Brett of Houston) daughter Jennifer Bustillos, (husband Randy, children Andrew and Adyson), all of Fort Worth, Texas, sister-in-law Connie Roberts, (husband Ron), of Merriam, Kansas, sister-in-law Cindy Honnens, (husband Stuart) of Lincoln, Nebraska, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother Nadine Prestwood, father Hugh Prestwood, Sr. and sister Marvyn Luckett.

A Celebration of Life is planned in the future. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation towards Hugh’s medical expenses. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Please Venmo to: @Judy-Ahrens-5

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