Zakir Hussain, one of India’s most renowned classical musicians, passed away on Sunday at the age of 73. He died at a hospital in San Francisco from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung condition, according to a statement from his family.
The statement highlighted his immense contributions as a teacher, mentor, and educator, leaving a lasting impact on many musicians. Hussain’s work aimed to inspire future generations to push boundaries. He is remembered as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Hussain was widely regarded as the leading tabla player of his generation. A master of the tabla, a key percussion instrument in Indian classical music, he had a career that spanned over six decades. During this time, he collaborated with various iconic figures, including singer-songwriter George Harrison, jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd, drummer Mickey Hart, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Zakir Hussain, the son of the legendary tabla maestro Alla Rakha, was born in 1951 in Mumbai. He began learning to play the tabla from his father when he was just 7 years old. A child prodigy, Hussain started touring by the age of 12 and was performing with some of India’s most celebrated classical musicians during his teenage years.
In a widely shared interview on social media in India, Zakir Hussain recalled how his father, Alla Rakha, introduced him to the world. He shared that when he was born, his father welcomed him by speaking tabla rhythms into his ears.
Hussain explained, “I was brought home, handed over to my dad in his arms. The tradition was that the father is supposed to recite a prayer in the baby’s ear… So, he took me in his arms, put his lips to my ear, and recited the tabla rhythms into my ears,” mimicking the rhythm of the instrument during the interview.
Both Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain were honored with the title “Ustad,” an Urdu term meaning master.
In 1973, Zakir Hussain formed the Indian jazz fusion band “Shakti” alongside jazz guitarist John McLaughlin. The band blended Indian music with jazz elements, creating an acoustic fusion sound that introduced a fresh musical style to Western audiences.
In 2024, Hussain made history by becoming the first Indian musician to win three Grammy Awards in the same year. His band “Shakti” won the Grammy for Best Global Music Album, and his collaboration with Edgar Meyer, Béla Fleck, and flutist Rakesh Chaurasia earned the awards for Best Global Music Performance and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. Hussain had previously won a Grammy in 2009.
In 2023, Hussain was honored with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award.
Hussain is survived by his wife and two daughters.
