Zakir Hussain, Legendary Indian Tabla Player, Dies at 73

Zakir Hussain, virtuoso of the tabla instrument and a towering figure in Indian classical music, died on Sunday of chronic lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, at a hospital in San Francisco. He was 73.

“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,” his family said in a statement.

Hussain was recognized with four Grammy Awards throughout his career. He received his first Grammy in 2009 for Best World Music Album with “Global Drum Project,” a collaboration with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead.  

The classical musician added three more Grammys in 2024, for Best Global Music Performance for “Pashto,” Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for “As We Speak”, and Best Global Music Album for “This Moment.”

Hussain has been widely regarded as one of the world’s most accomplished percussionists and was instrumental in bringing Indian classical music to international audiences.

The eldest son of legendary tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha, Hussain was born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai. He began performing at a young age, accompanying some of India’s greatest musicians.

At the age of 18, he was touring globally, establishing himself as a leading figure in Indian classical and world music.

A pioneer in musical collaboration, Hussain co-founded the fusion band Shakti with guitarist John McLaughlin in the mid-1970s, creating a groundbreaking blend of Indian and Western jazz traditions. The group’s influence extended across genres, earning critical acclaim for its innovative approach to music

Hussain also collaborated with a wide array of artists including Hart, George Harrison, and Van Morrison.

The music legend’s work extended beyond the concert stage to film and television. He composed music for the Cannes-premiering film “Vanaprastham” and contributed to the soundtracks of Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now,” Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Little Buddha”, and Merchant Ivory’s “In Custody.”

Hussain also dabbled in acting with “Heat and Dust,” “Saaz,” and “Monkey Man.”

In addition to his Grammy wins, the tabla master received numerous other accolades, including India’s "Padma Shri" (1988), "Padma Bhushan" (2002), and "Padma Vibhushan" (2023), some of the nation’s highest civilian honors. In the U.S., he was recognized with a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1999.

He is survived by his wife, the Kathak dancer Antonia Minnecola, and their two daughters, Anisa and Isabella.