Zakir Hussain, one in all India’s most accomplished classical musicians who defied genres and equipped tabla to international audiences, died on Sunday. He was as soon as 73.
The Indian classical tune icon died from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a power lung illness, at a clinical institution in San Francisco, his family said in a divulge.
“His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on infinite musicians. He hoped to inspire the following know-how to head further. He leaves in the assist of an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one in all the greatest musicians of all time,” the divulge read.
Hussain was as soon as the most recognizable exponent of tabla, a pair of hand drums that is the main percussion instrument in Indian classical tune.
Regarded as the greatest tabla participant of his know-how, Hussain had a profession that spanned six decades by which he collaborated with the likes of singer-songwriter George Harrison, jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd, drummer Mickey Hart and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
The son of legendary tabla artist Ustad Alla Rakha, Hussain was as soon as born in 1951 in Mumbai and was as soon as taught learn how to play the instrument by his father on the age of 7. A puny one prodigy, he started performing alongside India’s classical tune legends all the map in which through his kids.
In 1973, Hussain fashioned the Indian jazz fusion band “Shakti” with jazz guitarist John McLaughlin. The band performed acoustic fusion tune that mixed Indian tune with parts of jazz, introducing a weird sound to Western audiences.
In 2024, Hussain modified into the first musician from India to acquire three Grammy awards in the the same yr.
Hussain’s “Shakti” won Excellent World Tune Album, and his collaboration with Edgar Meyer, Béla Fleck and flutist Rakesh Chaurasia won Excellent World Tune Performance and Excellent Up-to-the-minute Instrumental Album. He had earlier won a Grammy in 2009.
In 2023, Hussain got the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-absolute best civilian award.
Hussain is survived by his partner and two daughters.
