BREAKING: Famed Musician, Dead at 73 More in Comments

Zakir Hussain, a musician and teacher, has died at the age of 73. He passed away on Sunday, December 15, from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis according to his family. Hussain was a virtuoso tabla player who worked with artists like George Harrison, Van Morrison, and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead.

“His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians,” Hussain’s family wrote in a statement, per a report from Ultimate Classic Rock. “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.”

Zakir Hussain was born in Mumbai, India, and was a household name in his home country. He helped to bring classical Indian music to the global mainstream through his mastery of percussion and composition. He also collaborated with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, sitar master Ravi Shankar, and jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd.

Zakir Hussain, Percussion Virtuoso, Dies at 73

Zakir Hussain’s father was also a musician—tabla master Alla Rakha Qureshi, often known as Allarakha. As a child prodigy, Hussain performed concerts at seven years old and was touring by 12. He also received a U.S. National Endowment for the Arts in 1999.

The tabla, Hussain and his father’s instrument of choice, often accompanied other percussion instruments. For a long time, the tabla—a pair of drums played by hand—was not widely considered a solo instrument. However, Hussain and his father are praised as some of the biggest musicians to bring the tabla front and center.