Writing his Course

Friday, May 28, 2004 | 2:38 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

May 29 - 30, 2004

Who: Paul Williams.

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday through June 6.

Where: Suncoast Showroom.

Tickets: $39.95.

Information: (702) 636-7111.

The musical genius of Paul Williams was lost for a while, drifting in a sea of alcohol during the 1980s.

But the Nebraska native who penned such classics as "Evergreen," "We've Only Just Begun," "Wildflowers," "Let Me Be the One," "An Old Fashioned Love Song," "Rainy Days and Mondays," "You and Me Against the World" and "Rainbow Connection" is back on dry land.

Williams, who has appeared in such films as "Battle for the Planet of the Apes" (1973) and the three-picture "Smokey and the Bandit" series (1977, '80, '83), will perform at the Suncoast from Friday through June 6.

During a recent telephone interview from his home in Los Angeles the 63-year-old songwriter discussed his recharged career and his bout with alcoholism.

Las Vegas Sun: When did you realize you were an alcoholic?

Paul Williams: You know you're an alcoholic when you misplace a decade. The '80s were lost -- that was my "Ishtar" period. I wrote the music for the movie (a box office and critical flop) -- it was the best thing I did during that period. I was in the midst of my addictions. I was pretty much of a mess.

My most productive period was in the '70s.

Sun: How did you cope with the disease?

PW: I went through rehab twice, and finally sobered up 14 years ago.

Sun: What did you do after becoming sober in 1990?

PW: I wrote most of the songs on the soundtrack for the film "The Muppet Christmas Carol" (1992). I did a good job, but my passion was gone.

When I got sober I thought I was done. I felt disconnected from the music and ran off and got certified as a drug and alcohol counselor. I thought I would save the world, pulling people off the street and counseling them -- it was my Dalai Lama period, you know, Gandhi meets Jiminy Cricket. I was on a spiritual quest to sober up the world. I spent three years working in hospitals.

Sun: When did you start making your comeback into entertainment?

PW: At a certain point you realize you're just hiding. Five years ago I started writing again. Three years ago (singer/songwriter) Jimmy Webb asked me to perform with him at this club in New York called Feinstein's. But I thought, "Nah. There's nothing more pathetic than a little old man saying 'Please sir, may I be the center square one more time?' "

But then I was talking to my buddy Richard Dreyfuss about turning down this offer to play at Feinstein's and he said, "Are you out of your mind? That's the hottest club in town." So I went in for two weeks with Jimmy and all of a sudden I started booking some dates.

I was five weeks on the road with Melissa Manchester earlier this year. It was great. We played the college circuit for fans of all ages -- kids, parents, grandparents.

Sun: How did you happen get the gig in Vegas?

PW: Bill Medley called me. Willie is just the best. He called me and said I needed to come back here to Vegas and meet Michael Gaughan (chairman of Coast Casinos), he's a big fan. Willie said there were a couple of rooms back here (Gaughan) would put me in.

So I went to Vegas last year and saw the last opening of Bill and Bobby (Hatfield -- the late member of the Righteous Brothers) and I met Michael Gaughan. It was just great. he said, "I would love to put you in here." I saw Willie's daughter (17-year-old McKenna) perform at the Suncoast, and I liked the size and the feel of the room.

Sun: When did you last perform in Vegas?

PW: I hadn't played here in years, but there was a ton of times in the '70s and '80s. The Aladdin, Frontier -- from opening to headlining. I was at the bottom of the bill with Olivia Newton-John and Bob Newhart. Don Rickles walked up to me after one of my sets and said, "What is this? I'm hearing people laughing. I thought you were a singer."

What I do is sing and talk to the audience and share stories.

Sun: What was your first hit?

PW: "Out in the Country" for Three Dog Night. It made the top 10. I wrote it with Roger Nichols.

Sun: Were you a successful songwriter from the beginning?

PW: Everything I wrote for the first three years got cut (was recorded). I was a phenomenal success -- lots of cuts and covers, but never a huge hit. Then the next thing you know two kids came waltzing in the front door at A&M -- Karen and Richard Carpenter. They knew everything I had ever written.

They cut "We've Only Just Begun."

Sun: What are you doing these days, besides concerts?

PW: There's been a nice resurgence in my career. Among other things Carole King and I wrote the title song for the new Kate Hudson movie, "Raising Helen."

There's a lot going on in my life right now, but the best elements are, first of all my recovery -- 14 years sober, and it's been the best 14 years of my life. Second, my relationship to my work, the way it feels right now.

Sun: What is most important in your life?

PW: Above all, of course, are my kids. But I frequently speak to the public about the disease of alcoholism -- that's really important to me.