Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain passes away

Ustad Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla maestro, passed away on December 15, 2024, at the age of 73 in a hospital in San Francisco, USA.

Early Life: Zakir Hussain was born on March 9, 1951, and began learning the tabla at the age of seven under the guidance of his father, the legendary Ustad Alla Rakha.

Career: He quickly rose to fame and was performing across India by the age of 12.

Fusion Music: He was a pioneer in blending Indian classical music with other genres, most notably with his 1973 project with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar, and percussionist TH 'Vikku' Vinayakram.

Awards: Zakir Hussain received several prestigious awards, including five Grammy Awards, the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.