Bill Maxwell is known for Martin (1992), The Jamie Foxx Show (1996) and The Color Purple (1985).

Bill Maxwell was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His mother was a jazz pianist who died two months after giving birth to him. Encouraged by his Grandparents to study music, Bill entered a music pre-school at two years of age.

Bill started playing drums professionally at the age of twelve. One of his first bands was with legendary blues guitarist Jesse Ed. Davis. Bill was a member of "The Third Avenue Blues Band" whose album was produced by T Bone Burnett in 1969.

Bill moved to Los Angeles in 1972 as a member of Andrae Crouch and the Disciples. He has produced 8 Grammy winning recordings for The Winans, Andrae Crouch and others. Maxwell also formed the band "Koinonia" with his dear friend Abraham Laboriel. Bill was the music director for the television shows The Jamie Foxx Show, Martin, Living Single, For Your Love, Amen, and many more.

Bill has recorded with Cassandra Wilson, T Bone Burnett, Ray Charles, Billy Preston, Quincy Jones, The Crusaders, The Nappy Roots, Freddie Hubbard, Anita Baker, Luther Vandross and many more. Bill worked as a music producer and musician with the Coen brothers on their films The Ladykillers and Romance and Cigarettes, and he worked as a featured musician on the film Walk The Line.

Bill is thrilled to be a member of the new group "Open Hands" with Abraham Laboriel, Justo Almario and Greg Mathieson. In October 2008, Bill was inducted into The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, and he is a member of The Gospel Music Hall of Fame.