Legendary Grammy Winner Indian Tabla Player Zakir Hussain Died
One of the best tabla players in the world, Zakir Hussain passed away at the age of 73. According to a statement from his family, the renowned artist in Indian classical music passed away in a San Francisco hospital from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis which is a lung condition. Hussain has won four Grammys and been honored with India’s second highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan.
His fingers drummed out melody and appealing as they soared, fluttered and floated in swift shifts of rhythm and raga. A legend who was both Indian and international, Zakir Hussain was a tabla master, percussionist, composer and even an actor.
Hussain described growing up in an “atmosphere of music 24 hours a day.” By age seven, he was performing in concerts alongside his father.
“From the age of seven, I sat on the stage with Abba whilst he played with so many greats. It was a lived experience for me and it allowed me to absorb all that I had heard over the years,” he told Nasreen Munni Kabir who is his biographer in 2018.
He had the chance to play alongside renowned Indian sitarist and composer Pandit Ravi Shankar while he was a youngster. By the age of 19, he was performing in over 150 Indian and foreign concerts annually. As his worldwide popularity increased, he played on international stages both solo and in collaboration with other musicians and he contributed to the soundtracks of many movies.
Hussain went on to get seven Grammy nominations and won four of them.
“I am overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of love, affection, and blessings for my multiple Grammy wins. It is impossible for me to individually respond to all of you, but be assured that you are all in my heart, and I’m bowing to each and every one of you in thanks. It was a great day for India at the Grammys, and I’m proud to be carrying the national flag,” he wrote on Instagram at the time.
Aside from his accomplishments as a tabla player, Hussain created music for a number of films including Manto and Mr and Mrs Iyer. He also appeared in the Merchant Ivory films Heat and Dust, The Perfect Murder and Saaz with Shabana Azmi.
Hussain rose to fame in 1988 as a brand ambassador for Taj Mahal Tea. In a 33 second television ad, the ustad was shown drinking Taj tea after being engrossed in his tabla riyaaz. The renowned Harish Bhimani would then remark “Wah Ustad, wah!” in praise of Hussain’s skills. The percussionist’s response would be, “Arre huzoor, wah Taj boliye!” That “Wah Taj” is still remembered after all these years and became a frequently used term for numerous occasions.
Many of his numerous admirers could only exclaim “Wah Ustad” as they bid farewell to the musician who crossed musical and geographic barriers and passed away too soon.
