Zakir Hussain was a world-famous table player and music composer from India. Known for his extraordinary talent, he blended Indian classical music with global styles. Born on March 9, 1951, he earned international flame, collaborated with many artists, and won prestigious awards like the Grammy. His music continues to inspire people worldwide.
Zakir Hussain was born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He was the son of the famous table player Alla Rakha. From a young age, Zakir showed great interest and talent in playing the tabla. He studied at St. Michael’s High School, Mahim, and later graduated from St. Xavier’s College,Mumbai.
Zakir Hussain began his music journey by performing with his father and other renowned musicians. He became a global icon in classical Indian music and collaborated with famous artists like George Harrison, John Handy and Van Morrison. He was also part of bands like Shakti and Tabla Beat Science, bringing Indian music to the world stage.
One of his major achievements was the album Planet Drum, created with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead. This album won a Grammy Award in 1992, the first-ever Grammy for World Music. Zakir continued to amaze the world with his talent, winning four Grammy Awards during this time.
Zakir Hussain composed and performed music for many movies, including Vanaprastham, In Custody and The Mystic Masseur. He also played the tabla for soundtracks of Hollywood films like Apocalypse Now and Little Buddha.
He appeared in movies such as Heart and Dust (1983) and documentaries like Zakir and His Friends (1998), showcasing his art and talent.
Zakir Hussain, a legendary Indian tabla maestro, has received numerous prestigious awards globally for his exceptional contribution to music.
Here is the list of awards and honors received by Zakir Hussain:
| Year | Awards |
| 1988 | Padma Shri |
| 1990 | Indo-American Award |
| 1990 | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award |
| 1992 | Grammy Award |
| 1999 | National Heritage Fellowship |
| 2002 | Padma Bhushan |
| 2005 | Old Dominion Fellow |
| 2006 | Kalidas Samman |
| 2006 | Grammy Nomination |
| 2007 | Modern Drummer and Drum! Magazine Award |
| 2009 | Grammy Award |
| 2012 | Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 2017 | SFJazz Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 2018 | Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellow (Academy Ratna) |
| 2022 | Honorary Doctor of Law |
| 2022 | Kyoto Prize |
| 2023 | Padma Vibhushan |
| 2024 | 66th Annual Grammy Awards |
Zakir Hussain married Antonia Minnecola, a Kathar dancer and his manager. They had two daughters, Anisa and Isabella, both talented in their fields. He had two brothers, Taufiq Qureshi and Fazal Qureshi, who were also musicians.
In his later years, Zakir Hussain continued to perform and inspire music lovers worldwide. Sadly, he passed away on December 15, 2024, in San Francisco, California, due to a lung condition called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Zakir Hussain’s music touched millions of heart across the globe. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest tabla players of all time, a true legend of Indian music who took his art to international heights.
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