Zakir Hussain, 73, was one of India's most accomplished classical musicians. He defied genres and introduced tabla to global audiences.
The Indian classical music icon died from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease, at a hospital in San Francisco, his family said in a statement.
"His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time,” the statement read.
Hussain was the most recognizable exponent of tabla, a pair of hand drums that is the main percussion instrument in Indian classical music.
Considered the greatest tabla player of his generation, Hussain had a career that spanned six decades in which he collaborated with the likes of singer-songwriter George Harrison, jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd, drummer Mickey Hart and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Hussain, the son of legendary tabla artist Alla Rakha, was born in 1951 in Mumbai. His father taught him how to play the instrument at 7. A child prodigy, he was touring by age 12 and performing alongside India’s classical music legends during his teens.
In an interview that was shared widely on social media in India, Hussain says his father welcomed him into the world after he was born by speaking tabla rhythms into his ears.
"I was brought home, handed over to my dad in his arms. The tradition was that the father is supposed to recite a prayer in the baby’s ear ... So he takes me in his arms, puts his lips to my ear and recites the tabla rhythms into my ears,” Hussain says in the interview, verbally imitating the rhythmic pattern of the instrument.
Both Alla Rakha and Hussain were given the honorific "Ustad,” an Urdu word that means master.
In 1973, Hussain formed the Indian jazz fusion band "Shakti” with jazz guitarist John McLaughlin. The band played acoustic fusion music that combined Indian music with elements of jazz, introducing a new sound to Western audiences.
In 2024, Hussain became the first musician from India to win three Grammy awards in the same year.
Hussain’s "Shakti” won Best Global Music Album, and his collaboration with Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck and flutist Rakesh Chaurasia won Best Global Music Performance and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. He had earlier won a Grammy in 2009.
In 2023, Hussain received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Hussain a "true genius who revolutionized the world of Indian classical music” and "an icon of cultural unity.”
"He also brought the tabla to the global stage, captivating millions with his unparalleled rhythm,” Modi wrote in a post on social platform X.
Hussain is survived by his wife and two daughters.
