- Zakir Hussain, a virtuoso tabla player and Indian classical music legend, died on December 15, 2024 at age 73 due to complications from chronic lung disease (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis)
- He was widely regarded as one of the world’s most accomplished percussionists and brought Indian classical music to international audiences
- Hussain was born in Mumbai in 1951 and began performing at age 7. By 12, he was touring globally and by 18, he was establishing himself as a leading figure in Indian classical and world music
- He won four Grammy Awards over his career, including three in 2024 for Best Global Music Performance, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, and Best Global Music Album
- Hussain collaborated with numerous famous artists including George Harrison, Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, and John McLaughlin in the fusion group Shakti
- He received India’s highest civilian honors, including Padma Vibhushan in 2023, and was recognized with a National Heritage Fellowship from the US National Endowment for the Arts in 1999
- Tributes poured in from around the world, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling him “a true genius who revolutionized the world of Indian classical music”
