Ustad Zakir Hussain Qureshi, the renowned tabla player from India, passed away on December 15, 2024, at 73. He died in a hospital in San Francisco after succumbing to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The tabla maestro was hospitalized two weeks ago but was shifted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after his health worsened.
His sister Khurshid Aulia shared with the media outlets that the musician passed away peacefully after his ventilation was taken off. His family described Hussain's legacy as being cherished by music lovers across the globe.
Zakir Hussain was a four-time Grammy Award winner. He received three of them at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards held in 2024. Over six decades, he collaborated with renowned artists, the most notable one being the 1973 fusion project with popular musicians like John McLaughlin, L Shankar, and TH 'Vikku' Vinayakram. The band was named ‘Shakti.’
Shakti’s This Moment album earned the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album this year. Besides that, Hussain received the Padma Shri in 1998. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2002 followed by the Padma Vibhushan in 2023. He was honored as a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts, in 1999.
Hussain’s compositions and creativity continued to flourish in the last few years preceding his death. Zakir Hussain is survived by his wife, Kathak dancer Antonia Minnecola, and daughters Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.
Zakir Hussain’s career and achievements explored
The tabla maestro’s journey as a musician began at the age of seven. As his expertise evolved, he collaborated with India's legendary performers like Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan. He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990 and its fellowship in 2018.
Zakir Hussain composed music for the opening ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. His work with Western artists like Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and others has been exceptional in introducing Indian classical music to global audiences.
He also earned the Downbeat Critics' Poll Best Percussionist Award in both 2020 and 2021. In 2022, Hussain received the prestigious Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy and was awarded the Aga Khan Music Award for lifetime achievement in Oman. He also played a key role as a founding member of Bill Laswell's world music supergroup, Tabla Beat Science.
Zakir Hussain was born in Mumbai to Ustad Alla Rakha Khan, the legendary tabla player. He began his training under his father’s tutelage and was considered a child prodigy. Hussain finished his schooling at St. Michael’s High School and was an alumnus of St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
Trending
Besides music, he shared a love for Isaac Asimov’s works. He loved to read poems and played cricket and tennis. According to BBC, he said that his composition for the tea brand Taj Mahal brought him more fame. He considered himself a student first as he loved to learn from younger musicians. Tributes have been pouring in on social media platforms after the news of his death was confirmed.
Reply
