Ustad Zakir Hussain Passes Away: World famous tabla player and Padma Vibhushan Ustad Zakir Hussain has passed away. He was undergoing treatment in San Francisco. He breathed his last there. He was born on 9 March 1951 in Mumbai. Ustad Zakir Hussain was awarded Padma Shri in 1988, Padma Bhushan in 2002 and Padma Vibhushan in 2023.
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Zakir Hussain had also received three Grammy Awards. His father’s name was Ustad Allah Rakha Qureshi and mother’s name was Biwi Begum. Zakir’s father Allah Rakha was also a tabla player. Zakir Hussain received his primary education from St. Michael’s School in Mahim, Mumbai. Apart from this, he did his graduation from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai.
Zakir Hussain performed his first concert in America at the age of just 11. In 1973, he launched his first album ‘Living in the Material World’.
Ustad Zakir Hussain used to play tunes with his fingers on seeing a flat surface
Zakir Hussain had the talent of playing tunes since childhood. He used to play tunes with his fingers on seeing any flat surface. He did not even spare the utensils in the kitchen. He used to play on whatever he found like a tawa, a pot or a thali.
Zakir Hussain used to keep the Tabla In the early days, Ustad Zakir Hussain used to travel by train. Due to lack of money, he used to travel in the general coach. If he did not get a seat, he used to sleep on the floor by spreading a newspaper. During this time, so that no one’s feet touch the Tabla, he used to sleep by keeping it in his lap.
At the age of 12, he got 5 rupees, which was of the greatest value
When Zakir Hussain was 12 years old, he went to a concert with his father. Music giants like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Bismillah Khan, Pandit Shanta Prasad and Pandit Kishan Maharaj had attended that concert.
Zakir Hussain went on stage with his father. After the performance was over, Zakir got 5 rupees. Referring to this in an interview, he said- I earned a lot of money in my life, but those 5 rupees were the most valuable.
Zakir Hussain learned tabla at the age of 7
Zakir Hussain is the son of the famous late Tabla player Allah Rakha Khan. It is noteworthy that he also composed music for many famous Indian and foreign films and played Tabla for films. Zakir Hussain started learning Tabla at the age of 7 and at the age of 12 he started performing while traveling around the country.
Zakir Hussain is suffering from heart disease
A close source while talking to ABP News confirmed that he is seriously ill and is being treated in America. He has been suffering from heart disease for the last few years. About 2 years ago, he was also given a stent due to blockage in his heart.
Zakir Hussain has been living in America for many years
Ustad Zakir Hussain along with his entire family settled in San Francisco, USA almost four decades ago. Zakir Khan has been awarded many national and international awards in India and abroad.
Zakir Hussain has been awarded these awards
Zakir Hussain has been awarded the highest awards by the Government of India like Padma Shri in the year 1988, Padma Bhushan in the year 2002, Padma Vibhushan in the year 2023. Zakir Hussain was also awarded the highest honor of music ‘Sangit Natak Akademi Award’ in 1990.
Zakir Hussain won Grammy Award four times
He was awarded the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009 for his album ‘Global Drum Project’, which became famous as a group musical project/effort in the Contemporary World Music Album category. It is noteworthy that Ustad Zakir Hussain was nominated for the Grammy Award 7 times in his career, out of which he won this award four times.
Zakir Hussain was also Honoured by America
The most powerful country in the world. In 2016, former US President Barack Obama invited him to the White House to participate in the All Star Global Concert. Zakir Hussain was the first Indian musician to receive this invitation.
Zakir Hussain acted in a Hollywood movie with Shashi Kapoor
He has also acted in some films. He made his debut in a 1983 British film Heat and Dust. Shashi Kapoor also acted in this film. Zakir Hussain also worked in a 1998 film Saaz. Shabana Azmi was opposite him in this film. Zakir Hussain played the role of Shabana’s lover in this film.
Zakir Hussain was also offered the role of Salim’s younger brother in the film Mughal-e-Azam (1960), but his father did not approve of it at that time. He wanted his son to focus on music only.
