A look at the tabla virtuoso’s life and legacy, blending music, spirituality and individuality. In an excerpt from an interview, he reflects on how he got his name, his upbringing, artistic journey and belief in universal oneness
Zakir Hussain — the legendary tabla maestro and one of India’s most celebrated classical musicians — passed away at 73 in a hospital in San Francisco, United States. The musician, widely regarded as the greatest tabla player of his generation, had been hospitalised for two weeks and was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) after his condition worsened.
Born on March 9, 1951, Zakir Hussain was the son of the legendary tabla virtuoso Ustad Alla Rakha. Over a career spanning six decades, he became a global icon of Indian classical music, known for his collaborations with renowned Indian artists such as Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan and Shivkumar Sharma.