Zakir Hussain was an Indian tabla maestro, composer, percussionist, music producer, and actor. Widely celebrated for bringing Indian classical music to a global stage, he was the eldest son of legendary tabla player Alla Rakha. Throughout his illustrious career, Hussain won four Grammy Awards and received seven nominations, with three wins in 2024 alone.
Awards and Recognition
Hussain’s exceptional contributions earned him numerous accolades, including the United States National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor for traditional artists. He was also honored with the Government of India’s prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Ratna Sadsya) in 2018.
Early Life and Education
Born on 9 March 1951 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Hussain inherited his musical prowess from his father, Alla Rakha. He attended St. Michael’s High School in Mahim and later graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
Musical Career
Hussain’s collaborations with global music icons were a testament to his versatility. He contributed to George Harrison’s Living in the Material World (1973), John Handy’s Hard Work (1973), Van Morrison’s Into the Music (1979), and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Powerlight (1983). His collaborations with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead resulted in the Grammy-winning album Planet Drum (1991), the first-ever recipient of the Grammy for Best World Music Album. The group’s later album, Global Drum Project, won another Grammy in 2009 for Best Contemporary World Music Album.
Hussain composed and performed for various films, including the Malayalam classic Vanaprastham, which earned critical acclaim at international film festivals. He also contributed soundtracks to notable movies like Apocalypse Now, Little Buddha, and The Mystic Masseur. As an actor, he appeared in Merchant Ivory’s Heat and Dust (1983) and featured in documentaries such as Zakir and His Friends (1998) and The Speaking Hand: Zakir Hussain and the Art of the Indian Drum (2003).
He was also a founding member of Tabla Beat Science, a world music supergroup led by Bill Laswell, and performed in the legendary fusion band Shakti with John McLaughlin.
In 2016, Hussain performed at the International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert at the White House, hosted by President Barack Obama.
Philosophy and Legacy
Hussain believed that music should be experienced with reverence and declined to perform at private gatherings, corporate events, or weddings. He shared his life and philosophies in the book Zakir Hussain: A Life in Music by Nasreen Munni Kabir, which compiled interviews from 2016–2017.
Personal Life
Hussain was married to Antonia Minnecola, a Kathak dancer and his manager. Together, they had two daughters, Anisa, a filmmaker, and Isabella, a dancer. His family also included brothers Taufiq Qureshi and Fazal Qureshi, who followed in his musical footsteps.
Hussain held academic roles as a visiting professor at Stanford University and Princeton University. In May 2022, the University of Mumbai conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of Law degree for his contributions to music.
Death and Tributes
Zakir Hussain passed away on 15 December 2024 in San Francisco, California, due to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was 73.
Global tributes poured in, celebrating his extraordinary legacy. Al Jazeera called him “a legend of Indian music,” while the BBC described him as “one of the world’s greatest tabla players.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed him as “a true genius who revolutionized the world of Indian classical music.”
John McLaughlin, his bandmate in Shakti, remarked, “He was the King, in whose hands rhythm became magic.” Hussain’s unparalleled artistry continues to inspire generations, cementing his place as a beacon of Indian classical music on the world stage.
