The entire entertainment industry is mourning the loss of Ustad Zakir Hussain, widely considered one of the greatest and most influential tabla players of all time. The legendary musician passed away due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease. The news was confirmed by Jon Bleicher of Prospect PR, who represents the family.
Tributes poured in from celebrities to cabinet ministers to honor the legendary tabla maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain. Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty expressed her deep sorrow at his passing.
In an interview with ANI, Sudha Murty said, “Hearing of Zakir Hussain’s death brings me immense pain. He introduced the beauty of the tabla to the Western world. He was a good human being, and I knew him personally. It is a great loss to India and the music world.”
Renowned for his virtuosity and emotive expression, Ustad Zakir Hussain was not just a performer but also a cultural ambassador. He bridged the gap between traditional Indian rhythms and global musical genres.
He was born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, Zakir Hussain was the son of the legendary tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha. He showed exceptional talent for the tabla from a young age. By his teenage years, he was already performing with some of the greatest Indian classical musicians.
Throughout his illustrious career, Ustad Zakir Hussain collaborated with some of the most iconic names in both Indian and international music. He worked with legends like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan, and played a pivotal role in forming international fusion bands such as Shakti, alongside guitarist John McLaughlin, and Planet Drum, with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead.
His collaboration on the Planet Drum album earned him a Grammy Award, one of many accolades in his remarkable career. Zakir Hussain’s contributions to music were celebrated with numerous prestigious honors, including the Padma Shri (1988) and Padma Bhushan (2002) from the Indian government, along with four Grammy Awards.
Zakir Hussain Passes Away At 73, Takes Last Breath In US Hospital After Battling Heart Issues
