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NEW DELHI — Zakir Hussain, one in every of India’s most achieved classical musicians who defied genres and launched tabla to international audiences, died on Sunday. He was 73.
The Indian classical music icon died from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a continual lung illness, at a hospital in San Francisco, his household stated in an announcement.
“His prolific work as a trainer, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on numerous musicians. He hoped to encourage the subsequent era to go additional. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of many best musicians of all time,” the assertion learn.
Hussain was probably the most recognizable exponent of tabla, a pair of hand drums that’s the most important percussion instrument in Indian classical music.
Thought-about the best tabla participant of his era, Hussain had a profession that spanned six a long time during which he collaborated with the likes of singer-songwriter George Harrison, jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd, drummer Mickey Hart and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
The son of legendary tabla artist Ustad Alla Rakha, Hussain was born in 1951 in Mumbai and was taught methods to play the instrument by his father on the age of seven. A toddler prodigy, he started performing alongside India’s classical music legends throughout his teenagers.
In 1973, Hussain fashioned the Indian jazz fusion band “Shakti” with jazz guitarist John McLaughlin. The band performed acoustic fusion music that mixed Indian music with parts of jazz, introducing a brand new sound to Western audiences.
In 2024, Hussain grew to become the primary musician from India to win three Grammy awards in the identical yr.
Hussain’s “Shakti” gained Finest International Music Album, and his collaboration with Edgar Meyer, Béla Fleck and flutist Rakesh Chaurasia gained Finest International Music Efficiency and Finest Up to date Instrumental Album. He had earlier gained a Grammy in 2009.
In 2023, Hussain acquired the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award.
Hussain is survived by his spouse and two daughters.
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