NEW DELHI, Dec 16: Renowned tabla virtuoso Ustad Zakir Hussain, 73, passed away on Sunday due to heart-related complications. According to his manager, Nirmala Bachani, the maestro had been battling blood pressure issues for some time. Earlier reports revealed that Hussain was admitted to a hospital in San Francisco after experiencing heart problems.
Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Ustad Zakir Hussain was the eldest son of legendary tabla player Allah Rakha. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in music, he developed a passion for the tabla at an early age. Hussain completed his schooling at St. Michael’s High School in Mahim and graduated from St. Xavier’s College, balancing academic excellence with his growing musical career.
Over his illustrious career, Zakir Hussain received numerous accolades. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan (2023). In the USA, he received the National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor in traditional arts and music.
His collaboration with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart on Planet Drum (1992) won a Grammy Award and the DownBeat Critics Poll for Best World Beat Album. Zakir also contributed to several film soundtracks and received a nomination at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival for his music in Heat and Dust.
Zakir Hussain’s passing marks the end of an era for Indian classical music, but his extraordinary contributions and global impact will ensure his legacy lives on.
