Ustad Zakir Hussain was a renowned Indian tabla player, composer, percussionist, music producer, and actor who died on December 15, 2024, at the age of 73.
Ustad Zakir Hussain Biography
Ustad Zakir Hussain was born on 9 March 1951 in Mumbai, India. He was the eldest son of the great tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha. Raised in a musical family, Zakir began learning the tabla very young. By the time he was seven, he was already playing the instrument, and at the age of 12, he gave his first concert.
He studied at St. Michael’s High School and later graduated from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai. Zakir also received a doctorate in music from the University of Washington. He had two brothers, Taufiq Qureshi and Fazal Qureshi, who are also musicians. He also had a brother named Munawar, who died early.
In 1978, Zakir Hussain married Kathak dancer Antonia Minnecola, who later became his manager. They met in California in the late 1970s while pursuing their art. Although Zakir’s mother initially opposed their relationship due to cultural differences, the family eventually accepted it.
The couple has two daughters:
Anisa Qureshi: UCLA graduate and filmmaker.
Isabella Qureshi: studying dance in Manhattan.
Antonia supported Zakir’s career by handling his work and also raised their daughters.
Zakir Hussain’s net worth is estimated to be around Rs 15-20 crore. He used to charge Rs 5-6 lakh for a performance, although he was paid just Rs 5 for his first performance.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 9 March 1951 |
| Place of Birth | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Birth Name | Zakir Hussain Qureshi |
| Profession | Tabla player, music producer, film actor, and composer |
| Instruments | Tabla, Pakhawaj |
| Spouse | Antonia Minnecola |
| Children | Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi |
| Father | Ustad Allarakha Qureshi |
| Mother | Bavi Begum |
| Awards | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan |
| Social Media |
Career Journey Of Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain contributed to many iconic music albums. He worked on George Harrison’s 1973 album Living in the Material World and John Handy’s album Hard Work in the same year. He also worked on Van Morrison’s 1979 album Into the Music and Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1983 album Powerlight.
In the 1960s, Zakir met Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, who later invited him to collaborate on the special project Planet Drum. Released in 1991, the album brought together drummers from around the world, including Indian percussionist Vikku Vinayakram. Planet Drum won the Grammy Award for Best World Music Album in 1992, the first Grammy in that category.
In 2009, Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Sikiru Adepoju, and Giovanni Hidalgo joined hands again to create the Global Drum Project, celebrating Planet Drum’s 15th anniversary. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the 2009 Grammy Awards.
Zakir has also composed music for films, acted in musicals, and worked as a music consultant. He contributed to the Malayalam film Vanaprastham (1999), which was recognised at the Cannes Film Festival and won several international awards. He composed soundtracks for films such as Ismail Merchant’s In Custody and The Mystic Mysore. Zakir also played tabla for the soundtracks of famous films such as Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now and Bernardo Bertolucci’s Little Buddha.
He has appeared in documentaries such as Zakir and His Friends (1998) and The Speaking Hand: Zakir Hussain and the Art of the Indian Drum (2003). He also appeared in the 1983 film Heat and Dust, where he served as associate music director.
Zakir Hussain was one of the founding members of Bill Laswell’s world music group Tabla Beat Science. In 2016, he performed at the International Jazz Day Global Concert at the White House hosted by President Barack Obama.
His tablas have been crafted for over 18 years by Haridas Vatkar, who learned the art of tabla-making specifically to serve Zakir.
Zakir Hussain believed that music should not be played at private parties, corporate events, or weddings. He believed that music should receive full attention and should not be made a part of events where people are meeting, eating, and drinking.
Awards and Recognition
Zakir Hussain has received many prestigious awards throughout his career:
- Padma Shri (1988)
- Padma Bhushan (2002)
- Padma Vibhushan (2023)
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1990) and Fellowship (2018)
- National Heritage Fellowship from the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts (1999)
Grammy Awards
Zakir Hussain has won five Grammy Awards, including three awards in one night at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2024. He made history as the first Indian musician to achieve this. The awards were for:
- Best Global Music Performance for Pashto
- Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for As We Speak
- Best Instrumental Composition for Motion
Special Recognition
In 2016, former U.S. President Barack Obama invited Zakir Hussain to the White House for the International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert. He was the first Indian musician to receive such an invitation.
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