Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain Died At The Age Of 73

Hussain had been hospitalized for two weeks...

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain passed away at the age of 73 in a hospital in San Francisco, USA, his family confirmed on Monday. He succumbed to complications caused by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, according to a statement from the family.

Hussain had been hospitalized for two weeks and was moved to the ICU after his condition worsened.

His sister, Khurshid Aulia, shared that he passed away "peacefully."

"He passed away very peacefully after being taken off the ventilator. This was at 4 pm San Francisco time," she stated.

Widely regarded as the greatest tabla virtuoso of his era, Zakir Hussain is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, and their daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.

Born on March 9, 1951, Hussain was the son of the legendary tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha.

In a statement, the family remarked, "He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music enthusiasts worldwide, with an influence that will endure for generations."

Over a remarkable six-decade career, Hussain collaborated with numerous renowned Indian and international artists. However, it was his 1973 project with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L. Shankar, and percussionist T.H. ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram that blended Indian classical music with elements of jazz, creating a groundbreaking fusion.

Hussain, who began performing at the age of seven, worked with almost all of India's iconic musicians, including Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and Shivkumar Sharma.

His innovative collaborations with Western artists like Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Mickey Hart, and George Harrison introduced Indian classical music to global audiences, solidifying his reputation as a cultural ambassador on the international stage.

Over the course of his career, Hussain won four Grammy Awards, including three at the 66th Grammy ceremony earlier this year.

One of India's most celebrated classical musicians, he was honored with the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.

As news of his demise spread, tributes and condolences began pouring in across social media platforms.

American drummer Nate Smith thanked Hussain for "all of the music you gave us".

Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also paid tribute, describing Hussain as an "irreplaceable legend".

"The world of music will be lesser without tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and his fans all around the world. My prayers, Om Shanti," she said.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta credited Hussain for bringing "an accompanying instrument to the forefront".

"The maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain passed away a few hours ago. Goodbye Ustad ji. The man who made the tabla sexy, who brought an accompanying instrument to the forefront is gone. Deepest condolences to his family, fans and students around the globe," Mr. Mehta said.