Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain has died in a US hospital at 73, leaving millions mourning across the globe
Image: Reuters
The artist, a marquee name in India and abroad, leaves behind a rich legacy of more than 60 years of music
Image: IANS
Regarded as the greatest tabla player of his generation, Zakir Hussain is survived by his wife and their daughters
Image: instagram/zakirhq9
Born on March 9, 1951, Zakir Hussain was the older son of legendary tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha. The child prodigy performed his first concert at the age of seven and began touring at 12
Image: PTI
After completing his education in Mumbai, where he was born, he moved to the United States in 1970
Image: IANS
His groundbreaking work with Western musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Mickey Hart and George Harrison brought Indian classical music to an international audience
Image: instagram/zakirhq9
Zakir Hussain received four Grammy Awards in his career, including three at the 66th awards ceremony earlier this year
Image: instagram/zakirhq9
One of India's most celebrated classical musicians, he received the Padma Shri in 1988, Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023
Image: instagram/zakirhq9
Besides his work as a tabla player, Zakir Hussain also composed music for many movies, including "Manto" and "Mr and Mrs Iyer"
Image: instagram/zakirhq9
In 1988, Hussain became a household name as the face of the Taj Mahal Tea brand. In the TV commercial, the ustad was shown immersed in his tabla riyaaz, and sipping a cup of Taj tea