India's famous tabla player Zakir Hussain is no more in this world.

Tabla player Zakir Hussain dies in a hospital in the United States; LG Manoj Sinha honors him.

During his storied 60-year career, legendary tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, who once referred to the instrument as his "companion, brother, and friend" and embodied the universality of music, died on Monday at a San Francisco hospital. He was seventy-three. "The sudden passing of the renowned tabla maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain Ji, is really tragic. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha wrote on X, "With his passing, the country and the music industry have lost a phenomenal talent and one of the most celebrated exponents of contemporary world music."

According to a statement from his family, Zakir Hussain, one of India's most well-known musicians and an internationally famous individual, passed away from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung condition. After hours of conjecture on social media, his death was confirmed, signaling the end of an era for a performer who skillfully blended Western and jazz music with traditional Indian music. After his condition worsened, Hussain, who had been in the hospital for the previous two weeks, was transferred to critical care. His sister Khurshid Aulia told PTI, "He died quietly after being removed from the ventilator at approximately 4 PM San Francisco time (5:30 AM IST on Monday)."

Hussain, who is widely considered to be among the best tabla players of his generation, leaves behind his children Anisa and Isabella Qureshi as well as his wife Antonia Minnecola. "He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers worldwide, one that will resonate for generations to come," his family said in a statement. Hussain, the son of the renowned tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha, was born on March 9, 1951. He seemed to be born with talent. When Hussain was born, he recalled that his father played tabla beats into his ears rather than the customary prayers. Naturally, his mother wasn't happy, but fate had other ideas.

He performed in front of an audience for the first time at the age of seven, and at twelve, he began touring. He worked with nearly all of the well-known Indian performers of his day throughout his early career, such as Shivkumar Sharma, Ali Akbar Khan, and Ravi Shankar. Tributes for the adored musician, who was renowned for his dazzling smile and lightning-fast fingers that conjured enchantment on the tabla, flowed in as word of his passing spread. He served as a link between Western and Indian musical traditions. As she offered her condolences to his family and supporters, President Droupadi Murmu said, "It was my honor to bestow the Padma Vibhushan upon him."

"Hussain took the tabla to the world stage and captivated millions with his unparalleled rhythm," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. By doing this, he symbolically represented cultural unification by fusing global music with Indian classical traditions. For centuries to come, musicians and music lovers will be inspired by his legendary performances and moving compositions. The PM said on X, "My deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and the international music community." Hussain was hailed as a “cultural ambassador who transcended borders and generations with his mesmerizing rhythms” by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Last year, Zakir Hussain told PTI, "Music is my world." He was instrumental in transforming the tabla from an accompaniment instrument to a main role. It's what I'm wearing. The tabla is my bed, my sibling, my friend, and my company. Every instrument, according to my father, has a soul. Connecting with that soul and making it your companion is the first step if you're a student. The instrument then instructs you on how to react, manipulate, and use it to express yourself.

The percussionist, who combined a variety of sounds from several musical genres, was at the forefront of invention during his long career. Together with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L. Shankar, and percussionist T.H. "Vikku" Vinayakram, he created the ground-breaking 1973 project *Shakti*, which fused jazz and Indian classical music in a way never seen before. Hussain worked with several well-known worldwide musicians, including George Harrison of The Beatles, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, jazz musician Charles Lloyd, banjo player Béla Fleck, bassist Edgar Meyer, and drummer Mickey Hart. His position as a worldwide cultural ambassador was cemented by these partnerships, which brought Indian classical music to audiences around the world.

Hussain has won four Grammy Awards in his career, including three earlier this year at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. As part of the *Shakti* fusion band, for which he received one of his Grammys, he had really scheduled a run of shows in Mumbai for the beginning of the following year. Known for his acting endeavors, the percussionist has won multiple awards, including the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023. "Raja, whose hands transformed rhythm into magic, is no longer with us. May the soul of my beloved Zakir rest in peace. John McLaughlin, the founder of *Shakti*, posted on Instagram, "Until we meet again."

Hussain's *Shakti* bandmate Shankar Mahadevan expressed deep sorrow, describing his passing as a "huge blow." Mahadevan told PTI, "The tabla will never sound the same, and there will never be another musician of this caliber." A.R. Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal, Kamal Sabri, and Amjad Ali Khan were among the music community members who paid tribute to Hussain, describing him as a genuine legend and an unmatched genius who made the tabla famous throughout the world. "When I learn about Zakir Bhai, I am absolutely devastated. According to Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain was a remarkable individual and one of the most adored musicians in the world.

"One of India's greatest musicians and personalities ever," tweeted Grammy winner Ricky Kej. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta gave Hussain credit for popularizing the tabla. "Goodbye, Ustad Ji. In reference to Hussain's well-known *Wah Taj* commercial for the Taj Mahal tea brand, he tweeted, "The man who made the tabla sexy and brought an accompanying instrument to the forefront has left us." Satya Nadella, the chairman and CEO of Microsoft, referred to Hussain as a "real legend" who made people happy with his mastery of rhythm. In a LinkedIn post, Nadella stated, "Your music transcends boundaries and will live on forever."

In addition to being a master on the tabla, Hussain also wrote music for movies like *Mr. and Mrs. Iyer* and costarred with Shabana Azmi in Merchant Ivory's *Heat and Dust*, *The Perfect Murder*, and *Saaz*.