Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain passed away at age 73 in San Francisco

Ravi Singh

Legendary tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain passed away at age 73 in San Francisco due to complications arising from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The veteran musician who, in the past fortnight was shifted from hospital to the ICU due to his worsening health, passed away on 15 December. The news has been confirmed by the family and they released their feelings of grief by expressing through a statement that went out: “He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the world and whose influence will resound for generations to come”.

Born on March 9, 1951, to the legendary tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha, music has been in Zakir Hussain’s blood since his very birth. Through six decades of performances, he evolved into the world’s most celebrated musicians by infusing the Indian classical heritage into genres around the globe and taking the heart-stopping sounds of the tabla to every corner of the globe.

He worked with Indian music legends like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, and Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Internationally, his work in the 1973 fusion project Shakti with guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar, and percussionist T.H. ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram was pioneering, fusing Indian classical music with jazz. Zakir Hussain received numerous accolades for his contributions to music, including the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan from the Government of India.

He was also honored internationally with a Grammy Award and the S.D. Burman International Creative Award. His ability to innovate while remaining deeply rooted in classical traditions made him a global icon and ensured the tabla’s rightful place on the world stage.

Tributes from around the world have begun to pour in following news of his death.

Zakir Hussain passed away at age 73 in San Francisco

Harsh Goenka, RPG Group Chairperson, mourned on X, “The world falls silent as the tabla loses its maestro. Ustad Zakir Hussain, the rhythmic genius who brought the soul of India to the world stages, has left us.”. His beats will live on forever.

The world falls silent as the tabla loses its maestro. Ustad Zakir Hussain, a rhythmic genius who brought the soul of India to global stages, has left us. I was privileged to know him because of his connection with HMV and hear him perform at our home. His beats will echo… pic.twitter.com/TJ5aaLbsqZ

— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) December 15, 2024

NCP President Sharad Pawar also condoled the loss, terming the news “heartbreaking” and admitting that Hussain made unmatched contributions to music and culture. Ustad Zakir Hussain leaves behind his wife, Antonia Minnecola, and his daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi. The extraordinary talent and profound influence he had will make his name a legendary figure for generations to come in the music world. Countless fans and fellow musicians mourn the loss of this genius while his rhythms and melodies keep inspiring him.

प्रसिद्ध तबलावादक पद्मभूषण उस्ताद झाकीर हुसेन यांच्या निधनाची बातमी वेदनादायी आहे. भारतातील सर्वांत प्रसिद्ध तबलावादक अशी ख्याती असलेल्या अल्ला रखाँ खान यांचे सुपुत्र असलेले झाकीर हुसेन एक बहुआयामी व्यक्तिमत्त्व होते. भारतीय संगीतातील तबला या वाद्याला जगाच्या व्यासपीठावर त्यांनी… pic.twitter.com/ugvo4KmJ9K

— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) December 15, 2024