With Ustad Zakir Hussain’s passing, the music industry lost a treasure. The famous tabla player died in San Francisco, California, at the age of 73 from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. By spreading the tradition and humility associated with our music throughout the world, the late musician gave Indian music new dimensions.

The eldest son of tabla player Alla Rakha, Zakir Hussain was born in Mumbai on March 9, 1951, and is regarded as one of the best tabla players of all time. In addition to being a superb musician, the Ustaad was renowned for his demeanor, stage presence, and regard for the arts and other musicians.

He is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola; his brothers, Taufiq and Fazal Qureshi; his sister, Khurshid Aulia; and his children, Isabella Qureshi and Anisa Qureshi (her husband, Taylor Phillips, and their baby, Zara). He leaves behind a remarkable legacy that is treasured by innumerable music enthusiasts worldwide, and his impact will last for many years.

Due to his remarkable abilities, charisma, and versatility, he was able to connect with listeners of all ages and backgrounds. Any child of the 1990s has a vivid memory of watching him perform on the tabla for a tea company.

Zakir gave the Indian television commercial industry the necessary power when it was still shakily standing thanks to his amazing on-screen persona, unparalleled tabla skill, and his delivery of the phrase “Waah Taj.”

His influence was genuinely worldwide since he not only brought Indian music to new heights but also worked with a number of foreign musicians, such as John Handy on the album “Hard Work” and George Harrison of the legendary band The Beatles on the 1973 album “Living in the Material World.” Additionally, he contributed to Van Morrison’s 1979 albums “Earth” and “Into the Music.”

Numerous honors were bestowed upon him in recognition of his remarkable body of work, including four Grammy Awards, the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from the Government of India, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Ratna Sadsya, and the National Heritage Fellowship from the United States National Endowment for the Arts, which is the highest honor bestowed upon traditional musicians and artists.

Shakti (which he created with John McLaughlin and L. Shankar), Remember Shakti, Making Music, The Diga Rhythm Band, Planet Drum and Global Drum Project with Mickey Hart, Tabla Beat Science, and Sangam with Charles Lloyd and Eric Harland are just a few of the notable partnerships he was a part of.

George Harrison, Yo-Yo Ma, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Airto Moreira, Pharoah Sanders, Billy Cobham, Alonzo King, Mark Morris, Rennie Harris, and the Kodo drummers are just a few of the diverse musicians he has collaborated with on his records and concerts.

Four highly acclaimed, sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall’s Artist Perspective series in April 2009 honored his remarkable contributions to the music industry.

For his “unparalleled contribution to the world of music,” he received SFJazz’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.

For his “enduring contributions to the musical heritage of humanity, peerless musical mastery, and sustained social impact,” he received the Aga Khan Award in 2022.

India’s music and cultural legacy are still greatly influenced by Zakir Hussain.