https://arab.news/gs9b7
- Hussain died in San Francisco from a chronic lung disease
- He was the eldest son of legendary tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha
Zakir Hussain, considered one of the greatest players of the tabla or Indian drums and known for his “dancing fingers,” has died.
Hussain, 73, died in a San Francisco hospital from complications of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis — a chronic lung disease, his family said in a statement.
Zakir Hussain accepts the award for Best Global Music Performance for Pashto, by Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain featuring Rakesh Chaurasia during the Premiere ceremony of the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US, on February 4, 2024. (REUTERS/File)
The eldest son of legendary tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha, Hussain was a child prodigy, beginning his professional career at the age of 12 accompanying Indian classical musicians.
By 18, he was touring internationally, winning acclaim for his accompaniment, dazzling solo performances and pioneering collaborative work with world musicians that elevated the status of the tabla in India and abroad.
Collaborators included George Harrison, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and jazz musician Herbie Hancock.
India's tabla maestro Zakir Hussain plays tabla during a cultural programme in the eastern Indian city of Patna on December 19, 2008. (REUTERS/File)
He was nominated for seven Grammy awards, winning four including three this year, according to the Grammy website. He was also the recipient of India’s highest honor for artists, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.