Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain passes away at 73

Renowned tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain passed away today at the age of 73.

He was admitted to the ICU of a hospital in San Francisco after experiencing heart-related problems, PTI reported quoting his friend and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia today.

Hussain was suffering from blood pressure issues, it said quoting a source close to him.

The eldest son of legendary tabla player Allah Rakha, Hussain had followed in the footsteps of his father, becoming a marquee name in India and across the world. Hussain received five Grammy Awards in his career, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year, reports The Hindu.

In his career spanning six decades, the musician worked with several renowned international and Indian artistes, but it was his 1973 musical project with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar, and percussionist TH 'Vikku' Vinayakram that brought together Indian classical and elements of jazz in a fusion hitherto unknown.

The percussionist, one of India's most celebrated classical musicians, received the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.