Legendary tabla virtuoso and Shakti founder Zakir Hussain dies at 73 : NPR

Indian tabla participant Zakir Hussain — who united musicians from numerous cultures and by doing so, formed trendy world music — died on Sunday in San Francisco. He was 73.

In a press release, his household stated the reason for dying was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

“His prolific work as a trainer, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on numerous musicians. He hoped to encourage the following technology to go additional. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of many best musicians of all time,” his household added.

Hussain’s profession spanned over 5 many years, throughout which he was revered as each a nationwide treasure in India and admired worldwide.

He defied genres and collaborated with a powerful vary of musicians, together with jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd, bluegrass artists Edgar Meyer and Béla Fleck, in addition to rockstars George Harrison and Van Morrison. His versatility earned him the uncommon distinction of performing twice on NPR’s Tiny Desk — as soon as in 2010 after which in 2023.

“, you come from India and also you say, ‘OK, I am representing a 3,000-year-old historical past,’ so that you suppose you are gonna train the world about rhythms and drums and so forth,” he advised NPR in 2015. “And then you definitely arrive right here. You all of the sudden understand that nothing. You are only one little dot within the portray that’s the music of the universe.”

Past his performances, Hussain was admired for his ardour to instructing Indian drumming, additional spreading appreciation for the artwork type.

Hussain usually stated that his musical journey started quickly after he was born in Bombay. Within the 2015 NPR interview, he recalled a practice the place a father whispers a prayer into his new child son’s ear. As an alternative, his father selected to sing him rhythms.

“My mom was very upset and stated, ‘Why are you doing this?’ And he stated, ‘As a result of this is my prayer,'” Hussain stated.

He advised NPR that it was his father’s dream for him to hold on the custom of being an Indian classical musician. His father, Alla Rakha, was thought of one of many world’s best participant’s of tabla, a centuries-old Indian hand drum. His father taught Hussain find out how to play the tabla when he was 7 years previous.

However his father additionally launched Hussain to music from all over the world, which is how Hussain fell in love with rock and Western music.

“I used to be the one child on the block who was strolling down the road with a boombox on my shoulder, taking part in as loud as I may ‘Gentle My Fireplace,'” Hussain recalled.

In 1970, at 19, Hussain traveled to the U.S. the place he spent the next years working with rockstars like George Harrison, Van Morrison and Mickey Hart, the drummer from The Grateful Lifeless. He additionally performed with jazz musician John Helpful.

In 1973, Hussain shaped the Indian jazz fusion band Shakti with jazz guitarist John McLaughlin. With its melodic and rhythm devices, the band helped American listeners admire sounds and devices past Western music.

Guitarist John McLaughlin (L) and tabla maestro Zakir Hussain hearken to a journalist’s query upon arrival at their resort in Bangalore, India, on Jan. 30, 2003.

Indranil Mukherjee/AFP by way of Getty Photographs

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Indranil Mukherjee/AFP by way of Getty Photographs

In 2024, Hussain grew to become the primary musician from India to obtain three Grammy awards in the identical 12 months after Shakti received Greatest World Music Album, and Hussain’s collaboration with Edgar Meyer and Béla Fleck that includes Rakesh Chaurasia received Greatest World Music Efficiency and Greatest Modern Instrumental Album.

Hussain advised NPR in 2015 that all through the course of his profession, he has discovered similarities between rhythmists all over the world — no matter strategy or fashion.

“We have been all on the identical wavelength, the identical quest, on the lookout for perfection, which we’ll by no means discover. However that did not matter as a result of it is all concerning the journey — not the purpose,” he stated.

NPR’s Felix Contreras contributed reporting.