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.
Early Life and Musical Journey
Zakir Hussain was born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai. His father, Ustad Alla Rakha, was a legendary tabla maestro, renowned for his jugalbandis with sitar virtuoso Pandit Ravi Shankar. Zakir began learning musical instruments at a very young age, guided by his father’s expertise.
At the age of three, Zakir started playing the pakhawaj, and his prodigious talent was soon evident. Impressed by his abilities, Pandit Ravi Shankar recommended Zakir as a music teacher at the University of Washington, USA.
Zakir’s international recognition grew when he became part of the rhythm band Planet Drum, alongside Mickey Hart, Sikiru Adepoju, and Giovanni Hidalgo. In 1992, the group won a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album. The band continued to shine, earning another Grammy in 2007 for their album Global Drum Project.
Zakir also made significant contributions to cinema. His first film score was for Heat and Dust (1983), produced by Ismail Merchant, with Shashi Kapoor in a lead role. This collaboration extended to other films like In Custody (1993) and The Mystic Masseur (2001), both featuring Om Puri.
Over his illustrious career, Zakir Hussain received numerous accolades. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan (2023). In the USA, he received the National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor in traditional arts and music.
His collaboration with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart on Planet Drum (1992) won a Grammy Award and the DownBeat Critics Poll for Best World Beat Album. Zakir also contributed to several film soundtracks and received a nomination at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival for his music in Heat and Dust.
In 1984, Zakir launched the Zakir Hussain Rhythm Experience, his own percussion ensemble. In 1991, he was honored by India’s Sangeet Natak Akademi and later contributed to the music composition for the opening ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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