NEW DELHI (AP) — Zakir Hussain, certainly one of India’s most completed classical musicians who defied genres and launched tabla to international audiences, died on Sunday. He was 73.
The Indian classical music icon died from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a continual lung illness, at a hospital in San Francisco, his household stated in a press release.
“His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time,” the assertion learn.
Hussain was essentially the most recognizable exponent of tabla, a pair of hand drums that’s the major percussion instrument in Indian classical music.
Thought-about the best tabla participant of his era, Hussain had a profession that spanned six many years through 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 Alla Rakha, Hussain was born in 1951 in Mumbai and was taught tips on how to play the instrument by his father on the age of seven. A toddler prodigy, he was touring by age 12 and performing alongside India’s classical music legends throughout his teenagers.
In an interview that was shared extensively on social media in India, Hussain says his father welcomed him into the world after he was born by talking tabla rhythms into his ears.
“I was brought home, handed over to my dad in his arms. The tradition was that the father is supposed to recite a prayer in the baby’s ear … So he takes me in his arms, puts his lips to my ear and recites the tabla rhythms into my ears,” Hussain says within the interview, verbally imitating the rhythmic sample of the instrument.
Each Alla Rakha and Hussain got the honorific “Ustad,” an Urdu phrase meaning grasp.
In 1973, Hussain shaped the Indian jazz fusion band “Shakti” with jazz guitarist John McLaughlin. The band performed acoustic fusion music that mixed Indian music with parts of jazz, introducing a brand new sound to Western audiences.
In 2024, Hussain turned the primary musician from India to win three Grammy awards in the identical 12 months.
Hussain’s “Shakti” gained Greatest International Music Album, and his collaboration with Edgar Meyer, Béla Fleck and flutist Rakesh Chaurasia gained Greatest International Music Efficiency and Greatest Up to date Instrumental Album. He had earlier gained a Grammy in 2009.
In 2023, Hussain acquired the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award.
Hussain is survived by his spouse and two daughters.
