Zakir Hussain, a legendary percussionist known for his mastery of the tabla and Indian classical music, has passed away at the age of 73. His family announced that he died in a San Francisco hospital after battling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease.
Born in Mumbai, Hussain was surrounded by music from a young age, with his father being a tabla player who encouraged him to perform alongside him. As a child prodigy, he quickly made a name for himself in the world of Indian music, collaborating with icons such as Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and Shivkumar Sharma. In 1973, he co-founded the Indian jazz fusion band Shakti with jazz guitarist John McLaughlin, further expanding his reach and influence in the music world.
Hussain’s innovative “dancing fingers” technique helped establish the tabla as a lead instrument, attracting a global audience that included renowned artists like George Harrison, Yo-Yo Ma, Van Morrison, and Pharoah Sanders. Over the years, he composed music for Indian and Western films, received numerous awards and accolades, and dedicated himself to teaching and mentoring the next generation of musicians.
With five Grammy awards, a National Heritage Fellowship, a Kyoto Prize, and recognition from Indian society, Zakir Hussain was celebrated as one of the most accomplished Indian artists on the global stage. His impact on music was felt far and wide, with a career that spanned decades and collaborations with some of the industry’s biggest names.
In a 2016 interview with the BBC, Hussain humbly stated, “This is music’s appeal, not mine. I am a worshipper of music, who presents it in front of people.” His legacy as a music maestro and cultural ambassador will continue to inspire generations to come.
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