Zakir Hussain passed away at the age of 73, his family announced on Monday. He succumbed to complications caused by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at a San Francisco hospital, where he had been under treatment for two weeks. His condition had worsened, leading to his transfer to the ICU.
Hussain, celebrated as one of the finest tabla players of his time, leaves behind his wife, Antonia Minnecola, and two daughters, Anisa and Isabella Qureshi. Born on March 9, 1951, he was the son of the legendary Ustad Alla Rakha, and his life and music inspired countless admirers worldwide.
"His remarkable legacy will continue to resonate for generations, cherished by music lovers across the globe," read a statement released by his family.
Over a career spanning six decades, Zakir Hussain revolutionized the world of Indian classical music and bridged cultural divides through groundbreaking collaborations. His project with John McLaughlin in 1973, violinist L. Shankar, and percussionist T.H. 'Vikku' Vinayakram introduced an innovative blend of Indian classical and jazz fusion, leaving an indelible mark on global music.
Hussain began his illustrious career at the tender age of seven and worked with almost every luminary in Indian classical music, including Ravi Shankar, Shivkumar Sharma, and Ali Akbar Khan. His international collaborations with artists like Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, Bela Fleck, Mickey Hart, Edgar Meyer, and George Harrison brought Indian classical music to a global stage, cementing his reputation as a cultural ambassador.
The tabla maestro was honored with numerous awards throughout his life, including four Grammy Awards—the most recent at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year. In India, he was bestowed with the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023 for his unparalleled contribution to music.
As news of his passing spread, heartfelt tributes poured in from around the world. Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej lauded Hussain's humility and his role in nurturing the careers of other musicians.
American drummer Nate Smith also expressed his gratitude for Hussain’s music, while Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi called him an "irreplaceable legend." "The world of music will be lesser without Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain.
Zakir Hussain’s contributions to music have left an enduring legacy. Though he is no longer with us, his work will continue to inspire and shape the world of music for generations to come.
Awards and honours
Zakir Hussain received several prestigious awards throughout his illustrious career. He was honored with the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023, among India's highest civilian honors. In 1990, he was presented with the Indo-American Award for his significant contributions to strengthening cultural ties between India and the United States. That same year, he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from the President of India, becoming one of the youngest recipients of this prestigious recognition from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s National Academy of Music, Dance, and Drama.
In 1992, Planet Drum, an album he co-created and produced with Mickey Hart, won the first Grammy for Best World Music Album. It also received the Downbeat Critics' Poll Award for Best World Beat Album and the NARM Indie Best Seller Award for a World Music Recording. In 1999, Hussain was honored with the National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts in the United States, presented by First Lady Hillary Clinton at the U.S. Senate.
During the 2005–2006 academic year, he served as a full professor at Princeton University, where he taught a course on Indian classical music and dance as part of his Old Dominion Fellowship. In 2006, he was awarded the Kalidas Samman by the Government of Madhya Pradesh for his exceptional achievements in the arts. That year, his album Golden Strings of the Sarode with Aashish Khan was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Traditional World Music Album category.
In 2007, readers of Modern Drummer and Drum! magazines named him Best World Music and Best World Beat Drummer, respectively. At the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009, Hussain won in the Contemporary World Music Album category for Global Drum Project, a collaboration with Mickey Hart, Sikiru Adepoju, and Giovanni Hidalgo.
In 2012, Hussain was honored with the Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Lifetime Achievement Award at the Konark Dance and Music Festival. Though he was nominated for the President's Medal of the Arts in 2016, a rule change prevented non-Americans from receiving the award. In 2017, the San Francisco Jazz Center presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2019, the Sangeet Natak Akademi honored Hussain with the Akademi Ratna (Fellowship) for his contributions in 2018. In 2022, Mumbai University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Law (LLD) degree for his extraordinary impact on music. Later that year, the Inamori Foundation named him a Kyoto Prize laureate in the Arts and Philosophy category, recognizing his global achievements in music.
At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in 2024, Hussain achieved a historic milestone by winning three awards. His first Grammy of the night was for Pashto, a collaboration with Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia. He also won Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for As We Speak, a fusion of classical and jazz styles created with the same team. His third Grammy recognized This Moment, a celebrated album marking the return of Shakti, the pioneering world-fusion band.
.jpeg)
0 Comments