Zakir Hussain, one of the greatest tabla players of the world, passed away at the age of 73.
The Indian classical music icon died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at a San Francisco hospital, his family said in a statement.
Hussain was a four-time Grammy Award winner and recipient of India’s second highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan.
Through his performances, he transformed the tabla into a universally loved solo instrument that was the star of the show.
The tabla – a pair of drums used in Indian classical music – was historically seen as an accompaniment to the main performance.
As soon as the news of Hussain’s death came, tributes have started.
Sitar and tabla player Nain Ghosh called the news “devastating” and said his association with Hussain dates back 60 years to his childhood.
“He was a trailblazer, a game changer, an icon who put tabla and Indian music on the world map and inspired generations of artists,” he told the BBC.
English guitarist John McLaughlin – who performed with Hussain in the band Shakti – described him as “the king, in whose hands rhythm became magic”. Grammy-winning musician Ricky Cage called him “one of the greatest musicians and personalities India has ever produced”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “a true genius who revolutionized the world of Indian classical music”.
Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi said Hussain’s death was a “huge loss to the world of music”, while the US Embassy in India said he was a “true teacher” and would “remain in our hearts forever”. “
Born in Mumbai in 1951, Hussain began training with his father, Ustad Ullarkha Khan, who was himself a tabla player.
Hussain described growing up in a “24-hour-a-day environment of music”. By the age of seven, he was performing in concerts with his father.
He told Nasreen Munni, “From the age of seven, I sat on stage with Dad while he played with many greats. It was a living experience for me, and it taught me all these things. It gave me a chance to absorb what I had heard over the years.” Kabir, his biographer, in 2018.
As a young man, he had the opportunity to perform with the famous Indian sitar player and composer Pandit Ravi Shankar. By 19, he was to play more than 150 concerts a year, Both in India and internationally.
As his footprint grew, he contributed to many film soundtracks, performed solo and collaborated with artists worldwide.
His 1992 album Planet Drum with drummer Mickey Hart won a Grammy in the inaugural category for “Best World Music Album”. He also performed with legendary artists such as George Harrison of the Beatles, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Van Morrison.
Hussain received seven Grammy nominations, winning four of them.
Speaking to the BBC about his global popularity in 2016, he said, “It’s the appeal of the music, not me. I’m a fan of the music, bringing it to people.”
Biographer Nasreen Munni Kabir noted that in his later years he became “one of the most sought-after collaborators among Indian classical musicians and dancers”.
But over the past 20 years, he has stopped going with the big names, playing mostly with younger musicians, music writer Shailja Khanna told the BBC.
He said he used his star status to bring young Indian musicians to the world stage.
“This led to young people willing to pay 2,000 to 3,000 rupees ($23.59 to $35.38; £18.62 to £27.93) for a ticket, which is very unusual for a classical performance.”
Hussain has previously spoken of his “good fortune” when it comes to his musical career.
“I’m one of those musicians who came on the brink of a great change in the music world and I was carried on that wave,” he explained.
“I was lucky enough to have a very passionate relationship with music, and at the same time, the wave accommodated me.”