Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain passed away on Sunday at the age of 73. He had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a San Francisco hospital earlier in the day due to heart-related complications.
According to his manager, the US-based musician had been dealing with blood pressure issues.
The eldest son of the legendary tabla virtuoso Allah Rakha, Zakir Hussain elevated the art of tabla to a global stage, forging a remarkable legacy while honoring his father’s illustrious contributions to music.
Acclaimed both in India and internationally, Zakir Hussain earned an impressive five Grammy Awards during his illustrious career, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year.
As one of India’s most revered classical musicians, Hussain was recognized with the prestigious Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.
Over his six-decade career, he collaborated with numerous celebrated Indian and global artists. Notably, his groundbreaking 1973 collaboration with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L. Shankar, and percussionist T.H. ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram transformed music by seamlessly blending Indian classical traditions with jazz, pioneering a fusion style that was both innovative and timeless.
Tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain passes away at 73 after battling heart-related complications added by Indian newspaper Sydney on
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