Legendary tabla maestro Zakir Hussain passed away at the age of 73 in the United States on 15 December 2024 due to blood-pressure-related complications. Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, he was the eldest son of tabla legend Allah Rakha.
With a career spanning six decades, Zakir Hussain won five Grammy Awards, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards in 2024. He acted in films such as ‘Saaz’ and ‘Heat and Dust’, with his latest film ‘Monkey Man’ released in 2024. His groundbreaking 1973 collaboration with John McLaughlin, L Shankar, and T.H. ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram fused Indian classical music with jazz, creating a new genre.
Zakir Hussain received numerous prestigious honors, including the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.
