MUMBAI: Zakir Hussain, a four-time Grammy award winner, whose “dancing fingers” made him one of the greatest players of the tabla or Indian drums and who became a major force in contemporary world music, has died. He is credited with turning tabla drums into an instrument loved globally.

Hussain, 73, died in a San Francisco hospital from complications of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis — a chronic lung disease, his family said in a statement.

A child prodigy, he was known for his dazzling solo performances and a raft of collaborative work with internationally renowned musicians such as George Harrison of the Beatles.

“He will be remembered as a true genius who revolutionised the world of Indian classical music. He also brought the tabla to the global stage, captivating millions with his unparalleled rhythm,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X.

Grammy winner tabla player collaborated with legends like George Harrison, Mickey Hart, Yo-Yo Ma, Herbie Hancock and John McLaughlin

Tributes poured in with fellow musician Amjad Ali Khan — who plays the Indian lute-like sarod — saying Hussain would “continue to bring the house down in the heavens”.

He was nominated for seven Grammy awards, winning four including three this year, according to the Grammy website. He was also the recipient of India’s highest honour for performing artists, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

“What do I bring to the tabla? I think it is openness and clarity ... your musical statement must be created with as much clarity as possible,” Hussain was quoted as saying in a 2018 biography.

‘Power’

The eldest son of legendary tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha, Hussain was born in India’s financial hub Mumbai, then known as Bombay.

Hussain began his professional career at the age of 12 accompanying Indian classical musicians. By 18, he was touring internationally and would go on to work with the likes of Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, jazz musician Herbie Hancock and virtuoso guitarist John McLaughlin.

He moved to the United States in 1970 and later formed the fusion band “Shakti”, or “Power”, with British guitarist John McLaughlin. This year, the group won the Grammy for best global music album for their record “This Moment”.

Hussain worked with banjo maestro Béla Fleck and bassist Edgar Meyer on the Grammy-winning As We Speak (2024), further cementing his status as a pioneer of cross-genre collaborations. He also collaborated with musicians as diverse as Yo-Yo Ma, George Harrison, Van Morrison and Billy Cobham, bringing Indian classical music to global audiences.

His ventures like Tabla Beat Science, a fusion of Indian classical music with electronic and world music, and orchestral works such as Peshkar for the Symphony Orchestra of India showcased his unrelenting drive to innovate while respecting his roots.

“The moment you think you’re a maestro, you are distancing yourself from the others,” Hussain told Rolling Stone India magazine earlier this year. “You have to be part of a group, and not dominate it”, reported by BBC.

This philosophy made him not only a consummate artist but also a lifelong learner and mentor.

The tabla, Hussain said in an interview with news agency Press Trust of India last year, was a “mate, a brother, a friend”. “I find myself at a place where I cannot imagine that I can exist without it. It motivates me to get up in the morning and say, ‘hello’,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2024