Associate professor Ricky Burkhead has been on the music faculty of the University of Mississippi since 1994. He holds the B.M.E. degree in instrumental music from Mississippi Valley State University and the M.M. in percussion performance from Eastern Illinois University. Prior to his appointment at Ole Miss he was on the music faculty at Mississippi Valley State University.



Ricky Burkhead's responsibilities at the University of Mississippi include applied percussion, percussion ensembles, steel drum and salsa band. Professor Burkhead's professional experience includes performances with the Memphis, Tupelo and Delta and Corinth Symphonies.



Ricky Burkhead has been president of the Mississippi Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and is on the artist rooster for the Mississippi Arts Commission. He is active as an arranger, clinician, performer, and adjudicator for elementary, high schools and universities throughout the southeastern and Midwestern United States.



Ricky Burkhead formed the UM Steel Drum Band in 1995. It is the second band that he has organized in the state of Mississippi. The first was at Mississippi Valley State University in 1986. The UM band was the first world music ensemble organized at the University of Mississippi and it has presented concerts on campus and well as performed for days of percussion and state band clinics.



Ricky Burkhead has presented steel drum clinics in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois, and Jamaica.



Ricky Burkhead endorses Zildjian Cymbals, Latin Percussion, Ross Mallet Instruments and Vic Firth Sticks.