Farewell to the Living Legend – The Death of Zakir Hussain Moves the Music World

The legendary Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain, renowned for his nimble fingers and masterfully played rhythms, has passed away at the age of 73. He succumbed to complications from a rare chronic lung disease in a San Francisco hospital, as his family reported. As the eldest son of the iconic Ustad Alla Rakha, Hussain was considered a musical prodigy from an early age. His career as a professional musician began at the tender age of twelve when he accompanied Indian classical musicians on stage. By 18, he was already touring internationally and gained worldwide recognition for his impressive solos and pioneering work in collaborations with international artists. He significantly contributed to establishing the tabla in the global music scene. Among his most notable collaborations were those with George Harrison, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and jazz musician Herbie Hancock. Hussain was nominated for the Grammy seven times and won four of the coveted awards, three of them this year alone. He was also awarded India's highest honor for artists, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.