Zakir Hussain (1951-2024): In Memoriam of the Tabla Maestro in Images

Zakir Hussain, tabla maestro, passed away on December 16, 2024, at the age of 73 in San Francisco, due to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He is the last of an era in Indian classical music and fusion music. One of the most incredible tabla players in terms of speed, dexterity, and creativity, Hussain mesmerized the world and went into musical history.

During his six-decade-long career, Zakir Hussain collaborated with numerous international and Indian artists, taking the boundaries of tabla music further. One of his most important projects was the 1973 collaboration with guitar player John McLaughlin, violinist L. Shankar, and percussionist T.H. Vikku Vinayakram. This collaboration led to the formation of the fusion band "Shakti," a groundbreaking group that fused Indian classical music with jazz, redefining the global perception of tabla and Indian rhythms.

Zakir Hussain's incredible talent brought in four Grammy Awards to him, and he has got the latest at the 66th Grammy Awards recently in this year. He became a global icon due to his collaborations with world music artists, which includes leading names like Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Shankar Mahadevan, and John McLaughlin. The impact of music by Hussain extended globally, and it goes further than India.

Hussain performed through his career at numerous cultural festivals and worked with numerous musicians of various genres. Some of his most influential performances include those with the renowned Ali Akbar Khan in 1972 and his musical group in concerts all over the globe. His work inspires uncountable musicians around the world, and his style for playing the tabla is emblazoned in the hearts of many.

Through mastery of the tabla, Zakir Hussain became a symbol of peace and brotherhood; he transcended cultural barriers to unite people from all walks of life. Through his music, generations yet to come will continue to find inspiration in the pictures and recordings of this maestro.

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