Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain, widely regarded among the greatest percussionists India has ever produced, passed away at the age of 73 in a San Francisco hospital on December 15. He was suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease, according to a statement released by his family.
Hussain was born in 1951 in Mumbai and started learning the tabla from a young age from his father Ustad Allah Rakha, who was also a famous tabla player. Hussain went on to become one of the country’s finest percussionists, and built on his father’s efforts to popularize the tabla outside of India.
Apart from performing with South Asian musical legends like vocalist Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, sitar player Pandit Ravi Shankar, sarod player Amjad Ali khan and sarangi player Sultan Khan, he was also a prominent figure in world music. He was a founding member of fusion band Shakti, along with guitarist John Mc Laughlin, and toured with the band up until earlier this year.
Hussain received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990, and has won four Grammy awards in his career. His most recent win at the Grammys was in February 2024, when Shakti’s This Moment took home the award for Best Global Music Album.
The Indian government awarded him the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honor in 2023.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a tribute to Hussain on social media platform X yesterday saying, “He will be remembered as a true genius who revolutionized the world of Indian classical music. He also brought the tabla to the global stage, captivating millions with his unparalleled rhythm. Through this, he seamlessly blended Indian classical traditions with global music, thus becoming an icon of cultural unity.”
As a prominent member of the Indian-American music community in the Bay Area, Hussain was also a patron and supporter of community media organizations like India Currents. At India Currents’ 25th anniversary celebrations, he said, “India Currents has always been a big source of support for bringing news of the great gifts of Indian culture here in the U.S., and I’m glad to be part of the same community. Working with them has always been a pleasure for me.”
Hussain is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, his daughters Anisa Qureshi and her family, Isabella Qureshi and her family, his brothers Taufiq and Fazal Qureshi, and his sister Khurshid Aulia. The family released a statement in which they requested privacy.
“His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians,” the statement read. “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.”