Obituary: Ustad Zakir Hussain: A Legacy Beyond Time
Ustad Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla virtuoso whose artistry bridged continents and genres, passed away on December 15, 2024, at the age of 72 in San Francisco. Widely regarded as one of the foremost musicians of his generation, his death marks the end of an era in the world of music, but his profound influence will resonate forever. Heat and Dust (1983) Born on March 9, 1951 into a family of musical excellence, Zakir was the son of the legendary Ustad Allarakha, and he began his career at an astonishingly young age. A child prodigy, he performed his first professional concert at the age of twelve, accompanying some of India’s greatest classical musicians and dancers. By the time he was eighteen, he was already performing on international stages, his talent undeniable. He was the eldest of three brothers, each contributing to the rich legacy of Indian percussion, with his siblings Taufiq Qureshi and Fazal Qureshi becoming notable tabla players and percussionists in their own right. Zakir’s brilliance was not confined to classical music alone. He …
