About
Paul Williams is one of the most beloved and respected music creators in the world today. A lyricist and composer who has won an Oscar Award, three Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, an Ivor Novello International Award, and earned induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, his songs, from “We’ve Only Just Begun” and “You and Me Against the World” to “An Old Fashioned Love Song” and “The Rainbow Connection,” have touched millions of people for generations. As President and Chairman of the Board of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), he is also a leading spokesman for music creators in the digital age.
Williams’ standards have been recorded by such diverse musical icons as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, David Bowie, Tony Bennett, The Carpenters, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Willie Nelson, Gonzo and Kermit The Frog. Although Williams is widely known as an actor in dozens of films and on television, it is his musical legacy that continues to inspire. His songs and scores have received six Oscar, nine Grammy, six Golden Globe and two Emmy nominations. “The Rainbow Connection,” from the children’s classic The Muppet Movie, is one of two Williams’ songs that grace the American Film Institute’s List of Top Movie Songs of All Time; the second, “Evergreen,” is from the award-winning Barbra Streisand/ Kris Kristofferson remake of A Star Is Born. Additional song scores include the cult favorites Phantom of the Paradise and Ishtar, as well as The Muppet Christmas Carol, Bugsy Malone, and Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas, the latter of which has now been adapted for the stage. Paul created the story and wrote the songs for Disney’s Emmy-nominated A Muppets Christmas: Letters To Santa and penned the music and lyrics for Garry Marshall’s theatrical sensation Happy Days. His recent work has remained wonderfully diverse, having co-written “Beyond” and “Touch” (which he also performed, receiving a Grammy as Featured Artist) on Daft Punk’s chart-topping, ‘Album of the Year’ Random Access Memories; and writing with Gustavo Santaolalla for the animated film, The Book of Life which received a World Soundtrack Award for their “Apology Song”. They also collaborated on Guillermo del Toro’s stage musical adaptation of Pan’s Labyrinth.
In addition to music creators’ rights, Paul is also passionate about recovery, and works tirelessly to destigmatize alcoholism and addiction. His career, life, and work in recovery have been chronicled in the acclaimed documentary, Paul Williams Still Alive, for which Paul wrote the critically acclaimed title track. Sober 30 years, his humorous observations of life, love, and creativity, augmented by the education and knowledge he gained through his studies and certification from UCLA as a Certified Drug Rehabilitation Counselor, has been shared in a best-selling book co-written by Tracey Jackson, entitled Gratitude and Trust: Six Affirmations That Will Change Your Life which was featured on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday.
While publicly lauded for his work as a songwriter, author and actor, most recently for his recurring role with Billy Bob Thornton in Goliath, Paul predicts he’ll be remembered for playing Little Enos in the Smokey and the Bandit trilogy and for his lyrics to “The Love Boat” theme. However, it is the lyrics from Bugsy Malone that aptly sum up his philosophy: “You give a little love and it all comes back to you; You’re gonna’ be remembered for the things that you say and do”. As a devoted husband to writer Mariana Williams and proud father, Paul considers his son Cole, and daughter Sarah, to be his best work
6 Nominations, 1 Win
9 Nominations, 3 Wins
6 Nominations, 2 Wins
2 Nominations
1 Win
“Nice To Be Around” (Music Grammy nomination: Song)
Phantom of the Paradise (Music Grammy nomination: Scoring: Original Song Score & Adaptation)
“You and Me Against the World” (Songwriter Grammy nomination: Song of the Year)
Phantom of the Paradise (Oscar Nomination: Best Original Score, Motion Picture)
Bugsy Malone (Music Grammy nomination: Original Song Score & Adaptation aka Adaptation: Score)
“Evergreen” (Music Grammy winner: Original Song)
Bugsy Malone (Oscar Nomination: Best Original Score, Motion Picture)
“Evergreen” Theme from A Star Is Born (Songwriter Grammy winner: Song of the Year)
A Star Is Born (Composer Grammy nomination: Best Original Score)
Anthony Asquith Nomination for Best film Music: A STAR IS BORN
Oscar Nomination for Original Song Score: BUGSY MALONE
The Muppet Movie (Music Grammy nomination: Original Song Score & Adaptation aka Adaptation: Score)
The Muppet Movie (Composer Grammy nomination: Best Album of Original Score Written for a Movie)
The Muppet Movie (Producer Grammy winner along with Jim Henson: Best Recording For Children)
“Rainbow Connection” (Music Grammy nomination: Original Song)
Saturn Award Nomination for Best Music: THE MUPPET MOVIE
Golden Globe Nomination for Best Original Song in a Film: RAINBOW CONNECTION from MUPPET MOVIE
“When the River Meets the Sea” (Primetime Emmy nomination: Outstanding Individual Achievement - Children's Programming Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas)
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
ASCAP Award for Most Performed Feature Film Standards: EVERGREEN from STAR IS BORN, A
The Muppet Christmas Carol (Producer Grammy nomination: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Best Musical Album For Children)
Songwriter’s Hall of Fame Inductee
National Music Publishers President’s Award
Elected President & Chairman of ASCAP – The American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers
Daft Punk Random Access Memories Album of the Year winner: Featured Artist
“Still Alive” (Critics Choice Awards nomination: Best Song: Paul Williams Still Alive)
Ivor Novello Award
“The Apology Song” (World Soundtrack Award winner: Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: The Book of Life, co-written by Gustavo Santaolalla)
Nancy Munoz
nancy.munoz@anamimusic.com