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Ricky Burkhead

Professor of Music

Ricky Burkhead

I am a professor in music. Percussion is my special area.

Research Interests

World Percussion and American Popular Music

Biography

Ricky Burkhead is Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Mississippi. An active clinician, he has conducted workshops and masterclasses in Uruguay, Argentina, and Jamaica, as well as for the Florida Music Educators Conference, Georgia, North Carolina, and Missouri state PAS Days of Percussion, Mississippi Music Educators Conference, Mississippi Bandmasters Conference, ABOP in LA and at universities throughtout the country. He is a former instructor at the United States Percussion Camp of Eastern Illinois University, where he completed his MA in Performance, studying with PAS Hall of Fame member Professor Johnny Lee Lane. Burkhead’s former students include collegiate professors, music engineers, band directors, administrators, as well as freelance professionals.

He founded the first world music ensemble at the University of Mississippi in 1995, the University of Mississippi Steel Orchestra (UMISSO). He also directs the UM Salsa Band, World Percussion Ensemble and teaches applied percussion. The UM Steel Orchestra has performed concerts at Goombay Festivals in Pensacola, Florida, state Bandmasters conferences, and for the Mississippi and Missouri PAS Days of Percussion. Additional annual performances include fundraisers for the University Museum and the Holiday Concerts, as well as radio concerts with the UM World Percussion Ensemble. Prior to his appointment at Ole Miss, Burkhead was on the music faculty of his undergraduate alma mater, Mississippi Valley State University, where he completed a BME. Founding their steel drum band in 1986, he became one of the first in the Mid-South region to create a steel pan program. Selected by the Mississippi Arts Commission to be a Roster Artist for Mississippi, Burkhead performs regularly as a freelance drummer, hand percussionist, vibraphonist, and steel pan. He is the house drummer for Thacker Mountain Radio House Band (Yalobushwhackers). Burkhead is also a founding member of The Soul Tones, a ten-piece band that has performed for the University of Mississippi special events, cooperate events, Juneteenth Celebration, concerts and wedding receptions throughout the Mid-South. He also has performed is a duo with Mississippi State University professor, Dr. Robert Damm.

Burkhead has partnered with composer/musician Slade Lewis and filmmaker Joe York, providing scores for films such as the Innocence Project documentary by the Ole Miss Law School, films for the Southern Food Alliance, Off Square Books, and projects for local businesses. He also works with filmmaker Micah Ginn and composer/musician/ filmmaker, Damein Wash. As a symphonic percussionist, Burkhead has performed with numerous orchestras including the Memphis, Tupelo, Germantown, Corinth, and Delta Symphonies.

He maintains a private teaching studio in addition to his university teaching he has created instructional videos of percussion for gospel, alternative acoustic folk, and Praise & Worship music. His compositions are available from JW Pepper, DevMusic and his album Perfect Peace, a Lifetime of Songs is available on all streaming sites. Burkhead serves as an advisor for the Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists (ABOP). An active adjudicator in the South-Eastern United States, he was a past president of the Mississippi PAS Chapter, hosting Mississippi state PAS Days of Percussion. Locally, he has devoted time to the UM Museum, Eagle Music Academy and the Art Council. Burkhead has been a member of the PAS High School Percussion Ensemble Committee, Black Faculty and Staff Organization and the Faculty Senate at the University of Mississippi.

Ricky Burkhead CV

Publications

Music for Marching Percussion

Courses Taught

Education

BM Music, Mississippi Valley State University (1983)

M.A. Music, Eastern Illinois University (1985)