One of the best tabla musicians in the world, Zakir Hussain, passed away at the age of 73.
According to a statement from his family, the legendary figure in Indian classical music passed away in a San Francisco hospital from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung condition.
Hussain has won four Grammys and been honored with India’s second-highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan.
Through his performances, he made the tabla the main attraction and a well adored solo instrument.
Traditionally, the tabla—a pair of drums used in Indian traditional music—was seen as an accompaniment to the main act.
Honoring the man who became the international spokesperson for Indian music
Tributes have started to flood in since word of Hussain’s passing spread.
What others say about Zakir Hussain?
The sitar and tabla player Nayan Ghosh described the news as “devastating” and stated that he had been associated with Hussain since they were young, 60 years ago.
“He was a pathbreaker, a game-changer, an icon who put tabla and Indian music on the world map by transcending the boundaries of genre and inspiring generations of artistes,” according to the BBC.
Hussain was referred to as “the King, in whose hands, rhythm became magic” by English guitarist John McLaughlin, who played with him in the band Shakti. He was referred to as “one of the greatest musicians and personalities India has ever produced” by Grammy-winning composer Ricky Kej.
He was described as “a true genius who revolutionized the world of Indian classical music” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
His passing was described as “a great loss for the music world” by Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress party, and as a “true maestro” who will live on “forever in our hearts” by the US embassy in India.
Hussain was trained by his father, Ustad Allarakha Khan, a tabla maestro himself, when he was born in Mumbai in 1951.
Hussain talked on being raised in a “musical environment all day, every day.” He was performing with his father in concerts by the time he was seven years old.
“I sat on stage with Abba when he performed with so many greats starting when I was seven years old. In 2018, he told his biographer Nasreen Munni Kabir, “It was a lived experience for me, and it allowed me to absorb all that I had heard over the years.”
He had the chance to play alongside renowned Indian sitarist and composer Pandit Ravi Shankar while he was a teenager. By the age of 19, he was performing in over 150 Indian and foreign concerts annually.
Zakir Hussain’s Awards
As his reputation increased, he played on the international scene both solo and in collaboration with other musicians, and he contributed to the soundtracks of multiple movies.
His 1992 album Planet Drum, which included drummer Mickey Hart, was awarded a Grammy in the first-ever “Best World Music Album” category. He also shared the stage with such iconic musicians as Van Morrison, Yo-Yo Ma, and George Harrison of the Beatles.
Hussain later had seven Grammy nominations, four of which he won.
“This is music’s appeal, not mine,” he said in a 2016 interview with the BBC about his widespread fame. I worship music, and I perform it for others to see.”
He became “one of the most sought-after accompanists to the very best of Hindustani classical musicians and dancers” in his later years, according to biographer Nasreen Munni Kabir.
Music journalist Shailaja Khanna told the BBC that he had ceased playing with the major names in the past 20 years and was now mostly performing with up-and-coming artists.
She claimed that he took advantage of his celebrity to introduce up-and-coming Indian musicians to the world.
“Because of him younger people were willing to pay 2,000 to 3,000 rupees ($23.59 to $35.38; £18.62 to £27.93) for a ticket which is very unusual for classical performances.”
In the past, Hussain had discussed his own “good fortune” in his musical career.
“I am one of those musicians who came at the cusp of a great change in the music world and I was carried on that wave,” he said.
“I had the good fortune of establishing a very unhurried relationship with music, and at the same time, the wave took me places.”
Also Read:
Shubhangi Gupta is a distinguished content writer and the visionary founder of The Unpleasant – Acha Nahi Sabse Sacha. With a Master’s degree in Commerce from University of Lucknow, Shubhangi has seamlessly blended her academic background with her passion for reading and writing, embarking on a successful career as a content writer since 2019.
2 thoughts on “Zakir Hussain Dies at 73 – Legendary Indian Table Player”