Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain has passed away at the age of 73 in San Francisco from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He leaves behind a legacy that is cherished and respected by countless music lovers across the world, with an influence that will be reflected in generations to come.
In the official statement on Hussain's passing away, his family said, "His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time."
Hussain was born on March 9, 1951 in Mumbai's Mahim to legendary tabla master Ustad Allarakha, who was Ravi Shankar's longtime accompanist. Hussain had an inclination towards playing tabla at a very young age.
He also learned to play the mridang (classical percussion instrument) from his father at the age of 3 and began performing at concerts by the age of 12. Earlier, Hussain had said that when he was a baby, his father used to recite tabla rhythms for prayers into his ears.
A child prodigy, Hussain collaborated with virtually all of India's legend performers, including Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan and Shivkumar Sharma.
Additionally, his groundbreaking in West music with artists like The Beatles, Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Llyod, Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Mickey Hart, George Harrison and John McLaughlin placed Indian classical music on the global map, marking his status as a global cultural ambassador.
Hussain's contribution to music have been considered to be uniquely transformative. "His unique mastery of rhythm allowed him to cross borders freely and create authentic connection between different genres of music."
In addition to the already long list of iconic partnerships, Hussain has also worked with George Harrison, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Airto Moreira, Pharoah Sanders, Billy Cobham, Alonzo King, Mark Morris, Rennie Harris and the Kodo drummers.
His contributions to the music world were honoured in April 2009, with four sold-out concerts at Carnegie Hall's Artist Perspective series, the official statement noted.
India bestowed the honour of Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri on Hussain. He has also been a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and a lifetime honour award of Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship.
Over his magnificent career, he also won a number of other accolades, including two Grammy Awards with Mickey Hart for Planet Drum, and three more this March (2024), one with John McLaughlin, and the band Shakti, and two for his collaborations with Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia.
Notably, Hussain is the first Indian to take home three Grammy Awards in one night. Additionally, the United States awarded Hussain the National Heritage Fellowship in 1999 by the National Endowment for the Arts, America's highest lifetime honour for the traditional artists. Later in 2017, he was honoured with SFJazz's Lifetime Achievement Award for his "unparalleled contribution to the world of music".
In 2022, Aga Khan Award was presented to the Tabla legend for his "enduring contributions to the musical heritage of humanity, peerless musical mastery and sustained social impact".
Murmu, Modi lead nation in paying tribute to maestro
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and PM Narendra Modi on Monday joined the nation in mourning the passing of legendary tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain.
“The passing away of Ustad Zakir Hussain is a great loss to the world of music,” Murmu said and highlighted Hussain’s role as a bridge between the musical traditions of India and the West. In his tribute, Dhankhar said Hussain’s unparalleled artistry would resonate in the hearts of people forever.
PM Modi paid homage to Hussain, describing him as a true genius who revolutionised Indian classical music. “He brought tabla to the global stage, captivating millions with his unparalleled rhythm, blending Indian classical traditions with global music, thus becoming an icon of cultural unity,” he said.
Home minister Amit Shah termed Hussain a musical genius whose work transcended language and culture. “His music will remain as a thread that unites humanity,” he said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described him as a "cultural ambassador who bridged borders and generations with his mesmerizing rhythms".
Dignitaries from all walks of life including politicians, artists, industrialists and eminent personalities paid their tributes to the tabla maestro.
