The hands that made tabla sing go still

MARCH 1951-DECEMBER 2024

NEW DELHI: Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla maestro who redefined the instrument and bridged the musical traditions of the East and West, passed away in a San Francisco hospital early Monday. He was 73. Hussain had been battling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive lung disease, and was hospitalized for two weeks before being moved to the ICU. His sister, Khurshid Aulia, confirmed that he passed away peacefully after life support was withdrawn at 4 pm San Francisco time (5:30 am IST).

"He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe," his family said in a statement. Hussain is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, and daughters, Anisa and Isabella Qureshi.

The news of his passing sent shockwaves through the global music community. A true pioneer who transformed the humble tabla into a global phenomenon, Hussain's career spanned over six decades, during which he collaborated with some of the greatest musicians in history and left an indelible mark on Indian classical and world music.

Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, Zakir Hussain was destined for greatness. The son of tabla legend Ustad Alla Rakha, Hussain's introduction to music was extraordinary. As he often recounted, his father greeted him into the world by reciting tabla rhythms in his ears instead of traditional prayers. This unconventional beginning marked the start of an unparalleled journey in music.

Hussain gave his first public performance at the age of seven and began touring at 12. He studied under the meticulous guidance of his father, developing a profound understanding of the tabla's spirit. "Tabla is a mate, a brother, a friend," he said in an interview last year. "Once the instrument accepts you as its mate, it reveals how you should touch it, how you should express yourself."