Zakir Hussain, one of the most celebrated tabla players of the time, passed away in the early hours of 16 December 2024 in a hospital in San Fransisco. According to his family, he had been inflicted with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis a chronic lung disease, which led to complications. His death has plunged the global music community into mourning, marking the loss of a cultural icon whose music surpassed genres and cultural boundaries. Zakir Hussain was born on 9 March 1951 in Bombay and was introduced to the tabla at a very young age by his father, Ustad Alla Rakha, who was also a legendary tabla player. Displaying extraordinary talent at a young age, he carried forward his father’s legacy by giving public performances from the age of seven. He studied at St.Michael’s High School and later graduated from St. Xavier’s College in present-day Mumbai. Later on, he performed with several prominent Hindustani musicians of his time, like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, and Pandit Shivakumar Sharma, while gaining popularity in the field of Indian classical music. On the other hand, in the 1970s, Hussain debuted in the United States at the Filmore East, New York, where he played alongside Ravi Shankar. During this time, he played the tabla for various albums, notably George Harrison's album Living in the Material World. He also founded band the fusion band “Shakti” with English guitarist John Mclaughlin, violinist L. Shankar and percussionist T. H. Vinayakram, which blended Hindustani and Carnatic classical music with jazz, which was an innovative approach to global music fusion. Throughout the years, Hussain continued to tour extensively around the world, performing in venues like Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Hall and Sydney Opera House, cementing his reputation as one of the leading tabla players around the globe. His career is adorned with numerous accolades, highlighting his exceptional contributions to music. He was awarded Padma Shri in 1988, followed by Padma Bhushan in 2002, and Padma Vibushan in 2023. He collaborated with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead in creating Planet Drum, which won a Grammy Award in 1992 for Best World Music Album. He also received three Grammys this year in 2024 for his collaborative work with other musicians, and one award was conferred to the album This Moment, made by his fusion band, Shakti. He was granted the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Ratna Sadsya, in 2018. In 1999, he was honoured with the United States National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship, the highest award to traditional artists. Zakir Hussain also collaborated with major Western musicians such as Charles Lloyd, Yo-Yo Ma and Béla Fleck, where he expanded his work on fusion music and cross-cultural collaborations. As the brand ambassador for Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea, the iconic expression “Wah Ustad Wah” – an admiration for his performance – remains etched in the minds of millions. He composed and performed for several films, including the acclaimed Malayalam film Vanaprastham, which won awards at the 2000 Istanbul and Mumbai International Film Festivals and the National Film Awards. Hussain also co-starred in Heat and Dust and appeared in documentaries like Zakir and His Friends and The Speaking Hand. He also taught young musicians as a guest lecturer and visiting faculty for institutions like Stanford University and Princeton University. Zakir Hussain is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi. As the world pays tribute to the legendary percussionist, his unparalleled brilliance, groundbreaking contributions and innovations in music will continue to inspire the generations to come. Ustad Zakir Hussain will forever be enshrined in the annals of history, remembered as one of the greatest musicians of all time.
16 Dec 2024
Sri Haritha Bandreddi
