Zakir Hussain was an Indian artist renowned for his mastery as a tabla player, composer, percussionist, music producer, and film actor. He was born on 9 March 1951 in Bombay, Maharashtra. He is also known as the greatest tabla player of his generation, and one of the greatest percussionists who brings Indian Classical Music to a worldwide audience.
Hussain received the United States National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor for traditional traditional artists and musicians, from the National Endowment for the Arts.
In 1990, he also won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from the Government of India and received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Ratna Sadsya in 2018.
Hussain was nominated seven times in the Grammy Awards and won four of them, including three in 2024.
The Guardian recognized him as the most exponent tabla player, meanwhile, The New York Times admired his finger speed, comparing it to a hummingbird’s wings.
Zakir Hussain Biography/Wikipedia
| Details | Information |
| Name | Zakir Hussain |
| Full name | Zakir Hussain Allarakha Qureshi |
| Age | 73 Years |
| Date Of Birth | 9 March 1951 |
| Birth Place | Bombay, Mahrashtra |
| Profession/Occupation | Musician |
| Death | 15 December 2024 |
| Zakir Hussain Father | Ustad Alla Rakha |
| Instruments | Tabla, percussion, drums |
| Net Worth | USD 1 million, or Rs 84,809,500 |
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Zakir Hussain’s Early Life and Education
Zakir Hussain was born on 9 March 1951 in Bombay, India to a famous tabla player Ustaad Alla Rakha. Zakir’s father Ustaad Alla Rakha is also a well known tabla maestro player. He started his musical career at the very young age of 7 and began playing his concerts and touring by the age of 12.
He completed his primary schooling at St. Michael’s High School in Mahim and graduated from St. Xavier’s College Mumbai.
Zakir Hussain Family
Hussain was married to a popular Kathak dancer and a teacher, Antonia Minnecola who also used to serve him as manager. Both of them have two daughters named Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.
| Zakir Hussain Father | Ustaad Alla Rakha |
| Zakir Hussain Mother | Not KNown |
| Zakir Hussain Brother | 1. Taufiq Qureshi 2. Fazal Qureshi |
| Zakir Hussain Sister | 1. Bilquis 2. Razia 3. Khurshid |
| Zakir Hussain Wife | Antonia Minnecola |
| Zakir Hussain Daughters | 1. Anisa Qureshi 2. Isabella Qureshi |
Meanwhile, Hussain had two brothers Taufiq Qureshi who is a percussionist, and Fazal Qureshi a tabla player. And he also had three sisters named Bilquis, Razia, and Khurshid.
Net Worth Of Zakir Hussain
Ustaad Zakir Hussain was a legendary tabla player who left an indelible mark in the history of music across the globe. His net worth is estimated to be around USD 1 million which is equal to 85 Crore in Indian rupees.
His financial earning mostly comes from his concert of playing tabla in film, soundtrack, and serval ways.
Awards & Honors Received by Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain several accolades during his life in playing tabla as one the best tabla players in the world. He won Grammy Awards, Padma Bhushan, Indo-American Awards and many more which are listed below.
Here is the list of awards and honors received by Zakir Hussain:
| Year | Awards |
| 1988 | Padma Shri |
| 1990 | Indo-American Award |
| 1990 | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award |
| 1992 | Grammy Award |
| 1999 | National Heritage Fellowship |
| 2002 | Padma Bhushan |
| 2005 | Old Dominion Fellow |
| 2006 | Kalidas Samman |
| 2006 | Grammy Nomination |
| 2007 | Modern Drummer and Drum! Magazine Award |
| 2009 | Grammy Award |
| 2012 | Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 2017 | SFJazz Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 2018 | Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellow (Academy Ratna) |
| 2022 | Honorary Doctor of Law |
| 2022 | Kyoto Prize |
| 2023 | Padma Vibhushan |
| 2024 | 66th Annual Grammy Awards |
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Music Career of Zakir Hussain
Zakir began his music journey at the young age of 7 with his father Ustaad Alla Rakha and other renowned musicians.
He is one of the global icons of Indian traditional and classical music who collaborated with famous musicians and artists like George Harrison, John Handy, and Van Morrison.
He was also a part of bands like Shakti and Tabla Beat Science, bringing Indian music to the world stage.
His major achievement in his life was the album planet drum, created with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, due to that album he won a Grammy Award in 1992 which is the first-ever Grammy Award for World Music.
Zakir continue to surprise his fans and the world of music and won four Grammy Awards out of seven nominations.
Zakir Hussain’s Contributions to Music
Zakir Hussain composed and performed music for several movies including In Custody and The Mystic Masseur, Vanaprastham. He also showcased his skills and playing tabla for the soundtrack of Hollywood films like Apocalypse, and Little Buddha.
Apart from this, he also appeared in movies like Heart and Dust (1983), and documentaries like Zakir and His Friends (1998) representing his arts and talent in the film industry.
Legacy Of Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain’s music and art touched millions of hearts across the globe. He always be remembered for his exceptional contributions to Indian music, and known as one of the finest tabla players in the world. He is a true legend of the Indian music industry.
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Zakir Hussain’s Death: An End Of Era
According to media reports, he was suffered due to heart problems and blood pressure-related issues, due to which Zakir Hussain’s death was passed away at the age of 73 on 15 December 2024 at San Francisco, California, U.S.
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