Indian Musical Maestro Zakir Hussain Dies Aged 73

The musician had received four Grammy Awards in his career.

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Indian Musical Maestro Zakir Hussain Dies Aged 73

World-renowned Indian tabla maestro Zakir Hussain passed away at 73 on Sunday, Dec. 15 at a hospital in San Francisco.

The Indian classical music icon passed away of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease, according to a family statement.

Hussain had been in the hospital for the past two weeks and was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after his condition had deteriorated.

Hussain's sister Khurshid Aulia shared, "He passed away very peacefully after the ventilation machine was switched off."

The table maestro is survived by his wife Antonia Minnecola and their daughters Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.

In a career spanning six decades, Zakir Hussain received four Grammy Awards. He received the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.

He took the table to the global stage with his collaborations with Indian and international artists. One collaboration, in 1973, involved Hussain working with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar, and percussionist TH 'Vikku' Vinayakram, which brought together Indian classical music and elements of jazz.

The Indian maestro also worked with artists like Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Mickey Hart, and George Harrison, introducing Indian classical music to a global audience.

Tributes from various renowned personalities poured in after the news including Nayan Ghosh, John McLaughlin, and many others.

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Indian Musical Maestro Zakir Hussain Dies Aged 73

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