Zakir Hussain (1951 – 2024)
He was one of the most renowned tabla players globally, celebrated for his exceptional skill and mastery of the instrument.
Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, India, he comes from a long lineage of tabla players, with his father, Ustad Alla Rakha, being a legendary figure in the world of Indian classical music.
Zakir Hussain's mastery over the tabla, a traditional Indian percussion instrument, has earned him global recognition.
Known for blending the traditional rhythms of Indian classical music with contemporary influences, he made significant contributions to world music.
He collaborated with a diverse range of international artists across genres like classical, jazz, and fusion, further expanding his influence on the global music scene.
Notable Works
Some of his notable collaborations include working with Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, L. Shankar, T.H. 'Vikku' Vinayakram, The Beatles, Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Llyod, Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Mickey Hart, John McLaughlin, George Harrison etc.
In 1970, Zakir Hussain co-founded Shakti (with John McLaughlin and L Shankar), a groundbreaking music group that combined Indian classical music with jazz, which further exemplified his innovative approach.
His other music groups include Remember Shakti, Making Music, The Diga Rhythm Band, Planet Drum and Global Drum Project with Mickey Hart, Tabla Beat Science, and Sangam with Charles Llyod and Eric Harland.
Aside from his performances, Zakir Hussain also composed music for several films, including Vanaprastham (1999), Apocalypse Now (1979), Heat and Dust (1983), In Custody, Little Buddha (1993), The Perfect Murder etc.
A prominent educator, he has been instrumental in preserving and promoting Indian classical music worldwide.
His contributions to music have earned him numerous accolades, including the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Padma Shri, three of India’s highest civilian honors and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and a lifetime honour award of Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship -- India's highest recognition in the field of music as well.
Hussain is also a five-time Grammy Award winner, with three Grammy wins, including the Best Global Music Performance Grammy for Pashto, a collaboration with Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia, at the 66th Grammy Awards.
In total, Zakir Hussain received seven Grammy nominations and five wins.
Additionally, he made history by becoming the first Indian musician to be invited to perform at the White House by President Barack Obama during the All-Star Global Concert (2016).
Awards & Honors
- Padma Shri (1988).
- Padma Bhushan (2002)
- Padma Vibhushan (2023)
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1990)
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (2018)
- Aga Khan Award (2022)
- Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy (2022)
- Grammy Awards
- Best Contemporary World Music Album (2009): Global Drum Project
- Best Classical Crossover Album (2010)
- Global Music Performance (2024): Pashto
- Best Instrumental Composition (2024): As We Speak
- Best Contemporary Instrumental Album (2024): Motion
- National Heritage Fellowship from the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts (1999)
📝SideNotes:
- Father of Tabla – Ustad Alla Rakha
- Queen of Tabla – Anuradha Pal.
- God of Tabla – Zakir Hussain.
- The debut solo album of Zakir Hussain – Making Music.
- The First Grammy winner of India – Pandit Ravi Shankar (Sitar).
- The First Indian musician to win three Grammy Awards in a single year – Zakir Hussain (2024).
- The current record holder for the most Grammy Awards won in a lifetime – Beyonce.
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis – a chronic lung condition that leads to progressive scarring of lung tissue.
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