Legendary Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain has passed away at 73

On December 16, 2024, the world mourned the loss of legendary Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain, who passed away at the age of 73 due to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) . A child prodigy and son of esteemed musician Ustad Alla Rakha, Hussain's illustrious career spanned over six decades. His innovative spirit and virtuosity not only earned him acclaim in India but also established him as a prominent figure on the global music stage.

The Indian classical music icon died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease, at a hospital in San Francisco, his family said in a statement.

Hussain was a four-time Grammy award winner and has received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award.

Through his performances, he transformed the tabla into a globally loved solo instrument that was the star of the show.

The tabla - a pair of drums used in Indian classical music - was historically viewed as an accompaniment to the main performance.

Hussain was the most recognizable exponent of tabla, a pair of hand drums that is the main percussion instrument in Indian classical music.

Considered the greatest tabla player of his generation, Hussain had a career that spanned six decades in which he collaborated with the likes of singer-songwriter George Harrison, jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd, drummer Mickey Hart and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

The maestro recounted an incident in which he wanted to run away with a woman who worked at their place. "She was one of the ladies who would look after us. I must have been very disgruntled with my mother, trying to stop me from playing music. I told Pujaran, let's just run away. She used to sing a bit. I told her, 'you sing, I will play, we will make a living'. I packed my school bags and was ready to go," he said. The maestro said he did not leave home because "what I needed was there, my father, my teacher".

Throughout his career, Hussain collaborated with a plethora of renowned artists, including George Harrison and Yo-Yo Ma. His contributions extended beyond performance; he was an influential teacher and mentor who shaped the next generation of musicians . Notably, he became the first Indian artist to win three Grammy Awards in a single year in 2024 and received India's Padma Vibhushan in recognition of his significant contributions to music .

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Sarah H

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