Remembering Ustad Zakir Hussain — The Legendary Tabla Player

Zakir Hussain, a child prodigy turned tabla maestro, is widely regarded as one of the greatest legends in the history of Indian classical music. With a career spanning over five decades, he carved his own niche as a virtuosic table player. By collaborating with international artists, he elevated Indian classical music to a wider spectrum of audience.

Source- Hindustan Times

Early Life and Training

Zakir Hussain was born on 9 March 1951 in Mumbai, Maharashtra to Alla Rakha Qureshi, a famous tabla master and Bavi Begum. He was the eldest child in that family. His father always wanted him to become a tabla player. So at the time he was born, instead of prayers, his father recited tabla rhythms in his ear.

He attended St. Michael’s High School in Mahim.

Hussain started training at a very young age under his father’s guidance in the Punjab gharana style of playing tabla. The training period was so intensive. He said, “You grow up in the atmosphere of music 24 hours a day, and you don’t have to do anything else.” This meticulous training gifted him discipline and the pursuit of excellence. He started playing tabla publicly at the age of seven and began touring at the age of twelve.

Rise to Prominence

In the 1960s,  he joined leading musicians at that time and garnered acclaim within India. His rhythmic skills and a unique approach gained the attention of various international artists.

In the 1970s he moved to the United States and earned a doctorate in music from the University of Washington. It was at that time he got exposed to the foreign audiences and the Western music. It helped him a lot in expanding his artistic capabilities. Based in the U.S., he collaborated with sitarist Ravi Sankar and sarod player Ali Akbar Khan for several years. Through these collaborations, Hussain introduced the Hindustani rhythms to the Western audiences.

International Collaborations

Zakir Hussain’s first album, George Harrison’s ‘Living In the Material World,’ was released in 1973, followed by John Handy’s ‘Hard Work.’.

While in the U.S., he met the English guitarist John McLaughlin. They founded the ‘Shakti’ band in 1973, which consisted of violinist L. Shankar and percussionist T.H. Vinayakram. Shakti turned out to be groundbreaking with its fusion of Indian classical music with jazz improvisation.

He started to tour extensively, making new collaborations with iconic artists and performing in concerts.

Joining with Mickey Hart, he created an album, ‘Planet Drum,’ that featured drummers from different parts of the world. The first Planet Drum album, released in 1991, earned the 1992 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album.

Hussain’s rewarding collaborations with Irish singer Van Morrison, Latin Jazz percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo, and Jerry Garcia have produced some of the greatest fusions. In the 1990s he joined the Asian Underground music’s electronic surge.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his music career, Hussain received lots of accolades and awards for his exceptional contributions in tabla.

Zakir Hussain was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023. He was given the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990, making him one of the youngest musicians to receive it.

His first-ever Grammy Award came in 1992 for Planet Drum in the category of Best World Music Album. He received the National Heritage Fellowship from the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts in 1999.

In 2024 he won three awards at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, which made him the first Indian musician to achieve it.

He was the first Indian musician to be invited to the White House by Barack Obama, the former US president, in 2016 to perform at the All-Star Global Concert. He was also a part of the team that composed the music for the opening ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Impact and Legacy

Zakir Hussain is seen as a cultural innovator who used the rhythms of tabla to transcend cultural boundaries. He redefined the nature and scope of the tabla and its role in Eastern classical music. His genius lies in his excellent adaptability to different genres of music. As an educator, he always conducted musical workshops and delivered lectures, sharing his wide knowledge of music with aspiring musicians.

Source - Deccanchronicle

His expertise to integrate tabla into various musical concerts and creating fusions and experimentations that resulted in worldwide acclaim proves his legacy in music. John McLaughlin, who performed with Hussain in the band Shakti, described him as “the King, in whose hands rhythm became magic.”.

Personal Life

Zakir Hussain married Antonia Minnecola, a Kathak dancer and teacher. They had two daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.

Death

Zakir Hussain passed away on 15 December 2024, at a hospital in San Francisco due to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was at the age of 73 then.

Final Words

The passing of Zakir Hussain marked the end of an era in Indian classical music. His unmatched speed, creativity, and artistic aura, which impressed millions of audiences worldwide, will always be remembered. His performances have left an enduring legacy that will inspire generations of musicians.

Written By Irene Elina Eldhose

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