Smooth Artist Interviews

What inspires you to do what you do?

The love of my craft inspires me, and as an artist and or producer, being able to take my life experiences and place them spiritually into music or film.

What elements do you look for in a song that makes it especially satisfying for you to perform?

I record my music for the people, not for myself. So, when the song feels like a great performance or a concert performance, that is satisfying to me, as I know it will be for the people that are watching or listening.

What are you most proud of at this point in your life and career?

I have built a 100 million dollar entertainment establishment "The Benford Company" (TBC), around a business, that at first, I thought I would never make it as a musician. I have produced and scored blockbuster film and television, managed some of the most Iconic artist on the planet, and I still get to play Smooth Jazz... you can’t beat that.   

What in your life outside of your music drives you in a creative sense? 

My life experiences, my children, people and places in general. 

On a scale of 1-10, how much do you enjoy composing music?  

1000% - MUSIC is my life!

Going back in your life as far as you can remember, what song or performance is the first you recall hearing and being affected by?

The Motown songs and sounds -  Miles Davis "Blue and Green", John Coltrian "Giant Steps", Nancy Wilson, Thelonious Monk,