Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain’s funeral took place in San Francisco, California, on Thursday, after his passing away from complications related to a lung disease, The funeral was attended by a number of musicians.
Zakir Hussain was honored musically by drummer Anandan Sivamani and a few other artists. The ‘dancing fingers’ legend, Zakir Hussain, passed away in a San Francisco hospital on Monday at the age of 73.
“He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an influence that will resonate for generations to come,” his family said in a statement. According to his sister, Khurshid Aulia, the music legend died “very peacefully”.
Zakir Hussain is survived by his wife Antonia Minnecola, and daughters Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.
The tabla maestro’s death marked the end of an era in the world of music. Born on March 9, 1951, to a family of musical excellence, Zakir Hussain was the eldest son of legendary tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha and a child prodigy, by all accounts.
He began his professional career at the age of 12 in Indian classical music. By 18, he was already performing on international stages.
Zakir Hussain’s work was not just confined to classical music. He has also collaborated with some of the greatest names in music across genres such as George Harrison, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and jazz musician Herbie Hancock.
The music legend received four Grammy Awards in his career spanning six decades, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year. He was also the recipient of the Padma Shri (1988), the Padma Bhushan (2002), and the Padma Vibhushan (2023).
