One of the greatest musicians to have come from India, Zakir Hussain, has passed away at the age of 73 on Sunday. The musician’s death was as a result of his battle with a lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at a hospital in San Francisco, as reported by his family.
Zakir was a very well-known figure around the world; he was known for playing the tabla, a pair of hand drums that is used in Indian classical music. He was rated by many as the best player of the tabla in his generation.
The tabla player was born in Mumbai in 1951. He learnt the tabla instrument from his father, Ustad Alla Rakha, who was equally popular for playing the tabla. Zakir was already performing, becoming a child prodigy at the age of 7.
He also featured alongside many of India’s top classical musicians when he was just a teenager.
Zakir and jazz guitarist John McLaughlin created their own musical group called “Shakti” in 1973. They mixed both Indian and jazz music, using it to create a unique sound that was enjoyable by many across the globe.
Before his death, Zakir won four Grammy awards, including three in 2024, and he won India’s Padma Vibhushan last year.
He left behind his wife and two female children.
