Zakir Hussain, legendary tabla maestro, dies at 73
Zakir Hussain, the renowned tabla maestro, died on December 15, 2024, at the age of 73. He had been hospitalized in San Francisco for heart-related issues for two weeks prior to his passing. Hussain was the son of legendary tabla player Allah Rakha and became a global icon in Indian classical music. He won five Grammy Awards and received several prestigious honors, including the Padma Vibhushan in 2023. Throughout his six-decade career, Hussain collaborated with many famous artists, blending Indian classical music with jazz. His groundbreaking work in 1973 with John McLaughlin and others was particularly notable.