Trice was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, probably in 1908; some sources state 1910 or 1911.[3] The family had moved to Raleigh by 1920.[1]
Both of Trice's parents played music—his mother played the organ at church functions, and his father was a music teacher[3]—but it was mainly his uncle who taught Willie the rudiments of blues guitar playing. His biggest influence was Reverend Gary Davis, also known as Blind Gary Davis. Trice formed a duo with his younger brother, Richard Trice, in Durham, North Carolina, in the 1930s. They and began playing a ragtime-influenced blues, which was common in the Carolinas in that period.[2] The brothers befriended Blind Boy Fuller in the 1933, and it was this relationship that led them to enter a recording studio.[3]
In July 1937, Trice recorded two sides (Issued as being by Welly Trice) for Decca Records in New York, with his brother Richard playing second guitar:[2][3] "Come On in Here Mama" and "Let Her Go God Bless Her".[3] Without any commercial success ensuing, Trice did not record again until the 1970s.[2] However, he was well known for playing locally in the 1930s and 1940s in North Carolina. In the late 1960s, both of his legs were amputated below the knee, as a result of the effects of diabetes.[4]
In 1971, he recorded two songs he wrote, "Three Little Kittens Rag" and "One Dime Blues", for Trix Records, which were released as a single the following year. Between 1971 and December 1973, he recorded enough songs (several of which he wrote himself), for an album, Blue and Rag'd, released by Trix in 1975.[3] It was re-released on CD twenty years later.[5] In September 1972, Trice was interviewed by Bruce Bastin, as part of the latter's interest in the history of the blues in the southeastern United States.[6]
Trice lived his whole life in the same area, continuing to play music as time and finances allowed.[2]
Trice died at his home in Durham, North Carolina, in December 1976, at the age of 68.[2] He was interred at Mount Sinai Baptist Church Cemetery, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.[3] His brother Richard, who died in 2000, was buried next to him.[7]
