Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla maestro, passed away on December 15, 2024. With a career spanning nearly six decades, he was a global icon of Indian classical music. (Compiled by Aaliya Farzeen Ashraf)
In 2010, Zakir Hussain became the first Indian musician invited by President Barack Obama to perform at the White House for the All-Star Global Concert.
Hussain won four Grammy Awards, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards in 2024, solidifying his status as a global musical icon.
The veteran musician was honoured with the Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan (2002), and Padma Vibhushan (2023) for his contributions to Indian classical music.
He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990 and the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 2018.
In 1996, Hussain composed music for the Atlanta Summer Olympics’ opening ceremonies, showcasing his work on an international stage.
Readers of Gentleman magazine voted Zakir Hussain the ‘Sexiest Man,’ beating Amitabh Bachchan. Hussain humorously noted the magazine team was shocked by his unexpected win.
Zakir Hussain acted and composed the soundtrack for the 1989 British drama Heat and Dust, demonstrating his artistic versatility.