Zakir Hussain
Tabla maestro and four-time Grammy winner
- Lived
- 73 yrs
- 1951 – 2024
- Works listed
- 3
- Album
- Honours
- 5
- Most recent 2024
- Profile views
- 4
- 0 followers
Zakir Hussain was a tabla virtuoso who brought Indian percussion to audiences around the world. The son of tabla master Alla Rakha, he co-founded the fusion group Shakti, won four Grammy Awards and received the Padma Vibhushan. He died in 2024.
Biography
A prodigy
Zakir Hussain was the eldest son of Ustad Alla Rakha, Ravi Shankar’s tabla accompanist. He began learning from his father as a small child, gave his first concert at about twelve and was accompanying senior musicians as a teenager. In 1970 he moved to the United States, where he later taught at the University of Washington.
Classical master
He accompanied the greats of Hindustani music, including Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan and Shivkumar Sharma, and was admired for his speed, clarity and playful exchanges with other musicians. He made the tabla a solo instrument for many listeners who had never heard it before.
Fusion and Grammys
With guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L. Shankar and others he co-founded Shakti in the 1970s, a pioneering fusion of Indian classical music and jazz. His work with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart on Planet Drum won the Grammy for Best World Music Album in 1992, and in 2024 he won three more Grammys, including for Shakti’s album This Moment.
Honours and legacy
He received the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023, and the US National Heritage Fellowship in 2009. He also composed for films and acted in Heat and Dust (1983). He died in San Francisco on 15 December 2024 from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Timeline
-
1951
Born in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra
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1970
Moves to the United States
-
1974
Co-founds Shakti
-
1988
Padma Shri
-
1992
First Grammy, for Planet Drum
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2002
Padma Bhushan
-
2023
Padma Vibhushan
-
2024
Wins three Grammys; dies in San Francisco
-
2024
Died, aged 73
Notable works
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1976
Shakti with John McLaughlin Album
-
1991
Planet Drum Album
With Mickey Hart.
-
2023
This Moment Album
With Shakti.
Awards and honours
-
Padma Shri
1988
-
Grammy Award for Best World Music Album
1992 · Planet Drum.
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Padma Bhushan
2002
-
Padma Vibhushan
2023
-
Grammy Awards (three)
2024
Did you know?
-
1
His father was Ravi Shankar’s tabla player.
-
2
He won three Grammy Awards in a single night in 2024.
-
3
He acted in the Merchant Ivory film Heat and Dust.
Connections
Related people
Frequently asked
Who is Zakir Hussain?
Zakir Hussain was a tabla virtuoso who brought Indian percussion to audiences around the world. The son of tabla master Alla Rakha, he co-founded the fusion group Shakti, won four Grammy Awards and received the Padma Vibhushan. He died in 2024.
When did Zakir Hussain die?
Zakir Hussain died on 15 December 2024 at the age of 73.
Where is Zakir Hussain from?
Zakir Hussain was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra.
What is Zakir Hussain known for?
Zakir Hussain is best known for Tabla, Shakti, Planet Drum, collaborations with world musicians.
What awards has Zakir Hussain received?
Notable honours include Padma Shri (1988), Grammy Award for Best World Music Album (1992), Padma Bhushan (2002), Padma Vibhushan (2023).
References
- Zakir Hussain (musician) — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Zakir Hussain (musician) — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Zakir Hussain (musician) — Spotify. Spotify. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Zakir Hussain (musician) — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Official website. zakirhussain.com. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Zakir Hussain (musician) (Q144719) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Zakir Hussain (musician)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
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About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Zakir Hussain.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/zakir-hussain
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