Zakir Hussain has died at the age of 73.
The Grammy-winning classical musician – who collaborated with late Beatle George Harrison and Van Morrison – passed away from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and a chronic lung disease at a hospital in San Francisco.
His family shared in a statement on Monday (16.12.24): “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.”
Born in Mumbai, the Indian musician was regarded as one of the greatest Tabla players of all time, and was the son of Tabla pioneer Alla Rakha, who played Hindustani classical music.
He was known for weaving together Western and Indian jazz styles as part of the ’70s fusion group Shakti with guitarist John McLaughlin.
Zakir received endless accolades in his lifetime, including four Grammy Awards.
He was first awarded with a Grammy in 2009, scooping Best World Music Album for his ‘Global Drum Project’ with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead.
Just 10 months prior to his death, Zakir earned three more Grammys: Best Global Music Performance for ‘Pashto’, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for ‘As We Speak’ and Best Global Music Album for ‘This Moment’.
Zakir was also awarded the Government of India’s Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990.
And, in 1999, he received the United States National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship.
Zakir played on George Harrison’s 1973 album ‘Living in the Material World’. He also performed on Van Morrison’s 1979 album ‘Into the Music’ and Earth, Wind and Fire’s 1983 LP ‘Powerlight’.
As a composer, he had music featured in movies such as Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Apocalypse Now’, Bernardo Bertolucci’s ‘Little Buddha’ and Merchant Ivory’s ‘In Custody’.
The multi-faceted star dipped his toe into acting as well, with roles in ‘Heat and Dust’, ‘Saaz’ and ‘Monkey Man’.
Fellow composer A.R. Rahman has led tributes to Zakir, writing on X/Twitter: “Zakir Bhai was an inspiration, a towering personality who elevated the tabla to global acclaim. His loss is immeasurable for all of us. I regret not being able to collaborate with him as much as we did decades ago, though we had planned an album together. You shall be truly missed. May his family and his countless students worldwide find the strength to bear this immense loss.”
He is survived by his dancer wife Antonia Minnecola and their daughters Anisa and Isabella.