Renowned Tabla Player Ustad Zakir Hussain Dies at 73, Tributes Pour in on Social Media
Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain died in America due to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Tributes are pouring from celebrities, family and friends.
Legendary tabla player Zakir Hussain died in a hospital in San Francisco on Monday. He was 73.
He died due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis complications, the family said in a statement.
He was in hospital for the past two weeks and was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after his condition deteriorated.
“He passed away very peacefully after the ventilation machine was switched off. This was 4 pm San Francisco time,” Hussain’s sister, Khurshid Aulia, told PTI.
The musical icon was known as the greatest tabla player of all time.
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The family said in its statement, "He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an influence that will resonate for generations to come." In a career spanning six decades, Hussain worked with several renowned international and Indian artistes but it was his 1973 project with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar and percussionist TH 'Vikku' Vinayakram that brought together Indian classical music and elements of jazz in a hitherto-unknown fusion.”
Zakir Hussain was born in Mumbai and graduated from St. Xavier’s college in Mumbai.
The multi-talented artist received seven Grammy Award nominations and won four times.
He collaborated with numerous international musicians such as George Harrison, John Handy, Beat Generation poet Allen Ginsberg, and Sir George Ivan Morrison, bringing Indian classical music and the tabla to a global platform. He played in George Harrison’s 1973 album Living in the Material World.
The Padmavibhushan awardee played many roles throughout his long career as an artist. Hussain composed and acted in a Malayalam movie Vanaprastham which won many national and international accolades.
Zakir featured in many TV commercials that highly resonated with the Indian audience. How can one forget his famous tagline “Array Huzoor Wah Taj Boliye!” from Brooke Bond’s TV commercial. He also gained a lot of fame for his curly hair which became an iconic symbol of his public image.
Zakir Hussain is survived by his wife Antonia Minnecola and their daughters -- Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.
Ustad Zakir Hussain’s passing signifies the end of an era, and it will undoubtedly create a void in the musical world that will take a long time to fill.
