Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Hugh Prestwood: September 2004

Gene Watson's peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's singer' - and rightly so!

All of Gene Watson's Peers who were contacted during 2004 were most gracious with their time & words. It is here, within this special part of the Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Hugh Prestwood, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 21 September 2004.

Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Hugh Prestwood who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.

Hugh Prestwood
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 21 September 2004

'Not living in Nashville, I have not had the pleasure of meeting Gene, but I've been an admirer of his for many years.

He is the 'real thing' and has, it seems to me, managed to hold on to his authenticity and integrity in an age where 'selling out' has become pretty routine.

Gene has recorded two songs of mine, for which I am very proud. And, what's even better, I love the cuts'.

Thank you, Hugh Prestwood, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Hugh Prestwood...

Hugh Prestwood waited until he was thirty years old before he left El Paso, Texas for a musical future in New York.  A teacher by day & club performer by night, Hugh was discovered in 1978 by Judy Collins, who gave him his first hit, 'Hard Times For Lovers', and subsequently recorded five more of his songs.

A staff songwriter for BMG Music, Hugh Prestwood has penned Billboard No.1 country music hits for the following artists:

Randy Travis: 'Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart'
Trisha Yearwood: 'The Song Remembers When'
Michael Johnson: 'The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder'
Michael Johnson: 'That's That'
Shenandoah: 'Ghost In This House'
Crystal Gayle: 'The Sound Of Goodbye'
Collin Raye : 'On The Verge'

Hugh Prestwood has also composed the following hit songs:

Highway 101: 'Bing Bang Boom'
Anne Murray: 'Feed This Fire'
Ty England: 'Smoke In Her Eyes'
Kathy Mattea: 'Asking Us To Dance'

Hugh Prestwood has also had his compositions recorded by Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993), Lee Greenwood, Don Williams, Jackie De Shannon, Vern Gosdin, (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009), Maura O'Connell, Tanya Tucker and The Judds.

Crystal Gayle recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'The Sound Of Goodbye' and included the track on 'Cage The Songbird' (Warner Bros. Records, 1983); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in January/February 1984.

Holly Dunn recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'My Heart Holds On' and included the track on 'Holly Dunn' (MTM Records, 1986).

Michael Johnson recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'The Moon Is Still Over Her Sshoulder' and included the track on 'Wings' (RCA Records, 1986); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in May 1987.

Michael Johnson recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'It Must Be You' and included the track on 'That's That' (RCA Records, 1988).

Michael Johnson recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'That's That' and included the track on 'That's That' (RCA Records, 1988).

Michael Johnson recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder' and included the track on 'That's That' (RCA Records, 1988).

Crystal Gayle recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Heat' (co-written with Tom Campbell) and included the track on 'Nobody's Angel' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988).

Randy Travis recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart' and included the track on 'No Holdin' Back' (Warner Bros. Records, 1989); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1990.

Suzy Bogguss recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Under The Gun' and included the track on 'Moment of Truth' (Liberty Records, 1990); the track reached No.72 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1990.

Shenandoah recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Ghost In This House' and included the track on 'Extra Mile' (Columbia Records, 1990); the tracked reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1990.

Anne Murray recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Feed This Fire' and included the track on 'You Will' (Capitol Records, 1990); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1990.

Don Williams recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Darling, That's What Your Love Does' and included the track on 'True Love' (RCA Records, 1990).

Baillie & The Boys recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Can't Stand To Be Unhappy' and included the track on 'The Lights of Home' (RCA Records, 1990).

Gene Watson recorded High Prestwood's 'You Can't Get Arrested In Nashville' and included the track on 'At Last' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).

Gene Watson recorded High Prestwood's 'This Country's Bigger Than Texas' and included the track on 'At Last' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).

Highway 101 recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Bing Bang Boom' and included the track on 'Bing Bang Boom' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).

Kathy Mattea recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Asking Us To Dance' and included the track on 'Time Passes By' (Mercury Records, 1991).

Collin Raye recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Latter Day Cowboy' and included the track on 'In This Life' (Epic Records, 1992).

Don Williams recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Only Water (Shining In The Air)' and included the track on 'Currents' (RCA Records, 1992).

Trisha Yearwood recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'The Song Remembers When' and included the track on 'The Song Remembers When' (MCA Records, 1993).

Charlie Sizemore recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Roller Coaster Run' and included the track on 'Back Home' (Rebel Records, 1994).



Linda Davis recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'A Family Tie' and included the track on 'Shoot For The Moon' (Arista Records, 1994).

Collin Raye recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'On The Verge' and included the track on 'I Think About You' (Records, 1995); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1995.

Collin Raye recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Heart Full Of Rain' and included the track on 'I Think About You' (Records, 1995).

Ty England recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Smoke In Her Eyes' and included the track on 'Ty England' (RCA Records, 1995).

Ty England recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Is That You' and included the track on 'Ty England' (RCA Records, 1995).

Bobbie Cryner recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'I Just Can't Stand To Be Unhappy' and included the track on 'Girl of Your Dreams' (MCA Records, 1996); the track entered the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart on Saturday 14 October 1995, peaking at No.63.

Collin Raye recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Corner Of The Heart' and included the track on 'The Walls Came Down' (Epic Records, 1998).

Collin Raye recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'April Fool' and included the track on 'The Walls Came Down' (Epic Records, 1998).

Alison Krauss and Union Station recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Ghost In This House' and included the track on 'Forget About It' (Rounder Records, 1999).

Trisha Yearwood recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Love Let Go' and included the track on 'Inside Out' (MCA Records, 2001).

Randy Travis recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Love Is A Gamble' and included the track on 'Around The Bend' (Warner Bros. Records, 2008).

Charlie Sizemore recorded Hugh Prestwood's 'Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart' and included the track on 'Heartache Looking For A Home' (Rounder Records, 2011).

In 1991, Hugh Prestwood was honored at the annual BMI Awards with the 23rd Robert J. Burton Song of the Year award for 'Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart' (as recorded by Randy Travis). Hugh was also selected by Billboard Magazine as the No.2 country songwriter of that year. Billboard currently lists 'Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart' as the 5th biggest country hit of the 1990s.

Hugh Prestwood made his recording debut on RCA records in 1993 with the album 'Signatures 3', which featured five of Nashville's top writers doing their own songs.

In 1994, Hugh Prestwood won a Prime Time Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics' for his composition 'The Song Remembers When', which was featured in the Disney special 'Trisha Yearwood - The Song Remembers When'. The song was also nominated for a Cable ACE Award for Best Original Song & was voted Song of the Year by members of the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI).

In 1997, Hugh Prestwood's song 'On The Verge' (performed by Collin Raye) was listed by Billboard magazine as the 4th biggest country hit of the year. Three of Hugh Prestwood's songs have been nominated for Grammy Awards in the 'Best Performance' Category: 'Sound Of Goodbye' (performed by Crystal Gayle), 'Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart' (performed by Randy Travis) and 'Ghost In This House' (performed by Shenandoah).

Born and raised in El Paso, Texas and a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso, Hugh Prestwood currently resides on Long Island, New York. Since 1982, he has taught advanced song-writing at The New School in Manhattan. Additionally, each year, Hugh teaches song-writing workshops for the NSAI in various locations throughout the United States.

Visit Hugh Prestwood's Official Site
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