Hugh Prestwood is an American songwriter whose work is primarily in country music

Country music

Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...

. His first hit as a songwriter was "Hard Time for Lovers", which was recorded in 1978 by Judy Collins

Judy Collins

Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...

. Prestwood also wrote "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart

Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart

"Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" is the title of a song written by Hugh Prestwood and recorded by American country music singer Randy Travis. Originally released in January 1990, the song was the second track released from Travis' 1989 album, No Holdin' Back...

", a Number One for Randy Travis

Randy Travis

Randy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...

 in 1990, and a song for which Prestwood received the Robert J. Burton Country Song of the Year from BMI

Broadcast Music Incorporated

Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...

.

Other artists who have recorded his material include Collin Raye

Collin Raye

Floyd Collin Wray Floyd Collin Wray Floyd Collin Wray (born August 22, 1959 or 1960,Although multiple online sources all indicate Raye's date of birth as 1959, Raye's MySpace lists his date of birth as 1960. Furthermore, the 2004 Deseret News article cited in this article indicates the singer as...

 ("On the Verge

On the Verge (song)

"On the Verge" is a single by American country music artist Collin Raye. Released in 1997, it was the sixth and final single from Raye's 1995 album I Think About You. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in May 1997....

"), Shenandoah

Shenandoah (band)

Shenandoah is an American country music group founded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in 1984 by Marty Raybon , Ralph Ezell , Stan Thorn , Jim Seales , and Mike McGuire...

 ("Ghost in This House

Ghost in This House

"Ghost in This House" is the title of a song written by Hugh Prestwood and recorded by American country music group Shenandoah. It was released in September 1990 as the second single from their album Extra Mile...

"), Highway 101

Highway 101

Highway 101 is an American country music band founded by Paulette Carlson , Jack Daniels , Curtis Stone and Scott "Cactus" Moser . With Carlson as lead vocalist, the band recorded three albums for Warner Bros. Records Nashville and charted ten consecutive Top Ten hits on the Hot Country Songs...

 ("Bing Bang Boom") and Trisha Yearwood

Trisha Yearwood

Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...

 ("The Song Remembers When

The Song Remembers When (song)

"The Song Remembers When" is a song released by American country music singer Trisha Yearwood. It was the title track and lead single off her third studio album, released in 1993. The song was later covered by Kristin Chenoweth for her 2005 album As I Am....

", for which he won an Emmy in 1994). He is also known for his song "Asking Us to Dance," which originally appeared on Kathy Mattea

Kathy Mattea

Kathleen Alice "Kathy" Mattea is an American country music and bluegrass performer who often brings folk, Celtic and traditional country sounds to her music. Active since 1983 as a recording artist, she has recorded seventeen albums and has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot...

's album Time Passes By

Time Passes By

Time Passes By is the sixth studio album released by American country music artist Kathy Mattea. It was released in 1991 on Mercury Records. The album, like her last two studio albums before it, was certified gold by the RIAA. Singles released from it include the title track at #7, "Whole Lotta...

.