Udaipur, December 16, 2024 - The world mourns the silence of the iconic tabla as its maestro goes on another journey...carrying his music into the other world. Zakir Hussain, one of the most celebrated musician of our times and winner of all three Padma Awards and four Grammys is no more. The musician passed away at the age of 73 in San Francisco, USA, his family confirmed early this morning.

As per reports, Hussain had been in the hospital for the last two weeks with heart-related complications. He was later admitted to the ICU as his condition worsened. He finally succumbed to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Earlier, news of his death started circulating last evening on the media with even the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announcing his death on its social media page. It later deleted that statement following the denial of the maestro’s demise by his family members who said he was "very very critical" but "very much breathing at the moment.”

Later, his death was confirmed by the family. A statement from the family also said:

"His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time."

Hussain was the eldest son of the legendary tabla player Ustad Allarakha and lived his father’s legacy from a very young age. His father taught him to play the mridangam from the age of three and Hussain started to perform at concerts when he was just 12. He was one of India’s most celebrated musicians and collaborated with several musical luminaries including violinist L.Shankar, Ravi Shankar, Shivkumar Sharma, Ali Akbar Khan, John McLaughlin, The Beatles, George Harrison, Edgar Meyer, to name a few. His collaboration with the English guitarist McLaughlin, L. Shankar and percussionist TH Vikku Vinayakram in 1973 will always be remembered for being the first of a kind combining Indian classical with jazz and became a groundbreaking event in the genre of fusion style.

The maestro was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, Padma Bhushan in 2002 and Padma Vibhushan in 2023. He received seven Grammy Award nominations in his six-decade old career and won four Grammys which includes three awards in one night at the 66th Grammy Awards this year. Becoming the first Indian to do so.

Hussain is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, daughters Isabella Qureshi and Anisa Qureshi (her husband, Taylor Phillips, and their daughter, Zara), brothers Tauq Qureshi and Fazal Qureshi and sister Khurshid Aulia.