Zakir Hussain is the eldest son of legendary tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha.
The tabla fell silent as Ustad Zakir Hussain, one of the greatest players of the Indian drums known for his ‘dancing fingers’, died at the age of 73 in a San Francisco hospital on Monday. The tabla maestro was suffering from complications caused due to a chronic lung disease, his family said in a statement.
“He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an influence that will resonate for generations to come,” the statement read.
Zakir Hussain had been in hospital for the past two weeks and was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after his condition deteriorated.
According to his sister, Khurshid Aulia, the music legend passed away “very peacefully”.
Zakir Hussain’s death marks the end of an era in the world of music.
Born into a family of musical excellence, Zakir Hussain is the eldest son of legendary tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha.
A child prodigy, the tabla virtuoso began his professional career at the age of 12 accompanying Indian classical musicians. By the age of 18, he was already performing on international stages. Winning acclaim for his accompaniment, dazzling solo performances, and pioneering collaborative work to develop a dialogue between North and South Indian musicians elevated the status of tabla, both in India and across the world.
Some of his unique and historic collaborations include Shakti, Remember Shakti, Masters of Percussion, Planet Drum and Global Drum Project with Mickey Hart, and Tabla Beat Science, among others.
Zakir Hussain’s work was not just confined to classical music. He has also collaborated with some of the greatest names in music across genres such as George Harrison, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and jazz musician Herbie Hancock.
The tabla maestro has received several honorary doctorates. In 2019, he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, India’s highest honour for artists.
Earlier this year, Zakir Hussain became the first musician from India to receive three Grammy awards at one time. He received Grammys for Best Global Music Album, Best Global Music Performance, and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.
