Tabla Legend Zakir Hussain Dies at 73, Family Confirms
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New Delhi, Dec 16 (NationPress) Tabla legend Zakir Hussain has sadly passed away, as confirmed by his family on Monday. He was 73 years old.
Hussain succumbed to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, at a hospital in San Francisco, according to a family statement.
Widely considered the greatest tabla player of his era, Hussain is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, and daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.
Born on March 9, 1951, he was the son of the legendary tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha.
The family’s statement noted, “He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an influence that will resonate for generations to come.”
Over his impressive six-decade career, the musician collaborated with many esteemed artists from both India and abroad. In 1973, he participated in a groundbreaking musical project with John McLaughlin, L. Shankar, and T.H. 'Vikku' Vinayakram, blending Indian classical music with elements of jazz in a fusion that was previously unknown.
Throughout his career, he worked with virtually all of India’s iconic performers, including Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and Shivkumar Sharma. His innovative collaborations with Western musicians like Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Mickey Hart, and George Harrison helped to bring Indian classical music to an international audience.
In recognition of his remarkable contributions, Hussain received four Grammy Awards during his career, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year.
He was honored with the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.
Just last October, Hussain shared on social media that he was enjoying the autumn season in the US, posting a video showcasing the beautiful changing weather. He captioned it, “Just sharing a wonder moment ..”
As the news of Hussain’s passing spread, an outpouring of condolences was seen across social media platforms.
