Paul Williams Credits The Muppets With Reinvigorating Songwriting Career

Before he wrote the chilling entrance song for Ebenezer Scrooge in the beloved 1992 movie, The Muppet Christmas Carol, acclaimed songwriter, Paul Williams, quit drinking. Like many before and after, Williams struggled with alcohol and drug abuse. During his career, Williams had earned any number of accolades and praise for his songwriting, but in time, it all stagnated.“I’d spent the 80s slowly disappearing into a career-ending addiction,” he tells American Songwriter. Grateful to be alive, Williams began his recovery. It was a time of healing. And music, for the moment, was in the past. Later, though, with a love for songwriting still in his heart, Williams sought an opportunity and the first place that opened its door was Jim Henson’s Muppets, now at Disney. Williams had worked closely with the Muppets over the years, but there was a new project: the Muppet version of the classic Charles Dickens story. Williams took the job and it helped to reinvigorate his career.