Background
He was born in Charleston, West Virginia.
He was born in Charleston, West Virginia.
Benford was the brother of drummer Tommy Benford. While Tommy worked out of Europe for much of this time, Bill worked in America, playing with Bubber Miley, Marie Lucas, Elmer Snowden, the Gulf Coast Seven, the Plantation Orchestra, Thomas Morris & His Seven Hot Babies, Ethel Waters, Willie "The Lion" Smith, and Jelly Roll Morton. His last recordings date from circa 1930.