Dr. Mark E. Sunkett died on June 26, 2014. He was a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and Temple University in Philadelphia where he received his undergraduate and masters degrees. Dr. Sunkett also held a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh. He became a member of the performance faculty at Arizona State University in the fall of 1976. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Percussive Arts Society. 

Dr. Sunkett performed with numerous professional organizations including the Philadelphia Ballet and Opera Orchestras, Penn Contemporary Players, United States Marine Band, Arizona Ballet, and Arizona Opera Orchestras. During the 1975–76 season, Sunkett was an extra “on call” with the world Philadelphia Orchestra. From 1978 to 1982 Sunkett was principal timpanist with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as percussionist with jazz, rock, and other popular artists touring the country. 

As an ethnomusicologist, Sunkett’s principal areas of research were African American and African music, percussion performance practices and aesthetics. From 1984 to 1996 Sunkett was director of the Kawambe Drum and Dance Ensemble. He had recently stepped out of this position to pursue research in Senegal, West Africa. Since 1994 he was principal investigator on the “Drums of Sénégal Project.” This project seeks to document rhythms, history and performance practices among the various ethnic groups in Senegal. 

His publications include Mandiani Drum and Dance: Djimbe Performance and Black Aesthetics from Africa to the New World (White Cliffs Media), the compact disk Mandiani Drum and Dance (White Cliffs Media). A video to accompany these titles was completed in January, 1997. He also published a compact disc featuring Omar Thiam and Jam Bugum titled Sabar, the Soul of Senegal in 1997.