Renowned tabla player Zakir Hussain has sadly passed away in the US at the age of 73 on December 15. He had been in the hospital for serious health issues and was in the ICU due to heart problems.
After the news came out, industrialist Harsh Goenka shared on social media, saying, “The world is quiet now as we lose the tabla’s maestro. Zakir Hussain was a genius who brought Indian music to the world. His beats will always be remembered.”
Zakir was the son of famous tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha Khan and was a well-known figure in Indian and global music. He started learning the tabla at just seven years old and was already performing across India by the age of 12.
Throughout his amazing career, Zakir contributed to Indian classical music and world music. He worked on many acclaimed films, both Indian and international, showcasing his unique talent on the tabla. Nearly forty years ago, he moved to San Francisco with his family but continued to influence music worldwide.
Zakir Hussain received many prestigious awards for his work, including India’s highest civilian honors: the Padma Shri in 1988, Padma Bhushan in 2002, and Padma Vibhushan in 2023. He was also awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990, which is India’s top recognition in music.
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