Zakir Hussain: Indian tabla maestro and Grammy-winning musician dies

Published

7 months ago

December 16, 2024

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Zakir Hussain, one of the greatest exponents of tabla music, a form of Indian drumming, has died.

Hussain, who during his career worked with George Harrison and Van Morrison among others, died at a hospital in San Francisco from complications arising out of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, his family said.

A family statement said: “He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an influence that will resonate for generations to come. His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians.

“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. The family requests privacy at this time.”

Hussain, 73, has won four Grammys, the most for an Indian musician, including for Best Global Music Album, Global Music Performance, and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at this year’s awards in February.

Among the many tributes posted on social media, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him a “legendary tabla maestro” and a “true genius” on X.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar said “we were fortunate to witness your magic” and “the beats will continue to echo in our hearts forever”.

Fellow cricketer Yuvraj Singh called Hussain a “true maestro”.

In a music career spanning six decades, Hussain worked with several renowned international musicians.

In 1972, he met British guitarist John McLaughlin, leading to the formation of the groundbreaking Shakti band the following year.

It also included violinist, L Shankar, and percussionist, T H Vinayakram, and their blend of Indian classical music with Western jazz won the group a Grammy for Best Global Music.

He transformed the art of tabla playing and during his long career collaborated with Jerry Garcia, the lead vocalist and guitarist of the Grateful Dread, with Irish singer Van Morrison, American percussionist Mickey Hart, Latin jazz percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo as well as playing on George Harrison’s 1973 album Living In The Material World, which reached number one in several countries’ album charts

In the 1990s he delved into Asian Underground music that fused Western music with Asian classics, but made sure to retain the prominence of the tabla.

His collaboration with banjo legend Béla Fleck, double bass artist Edgar Meyer and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia, took home this year’s Grammy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album with the album As We Speak. Pashto by the collaboration won the award for Best Global Music Performance. The group was set to tour India in January.

He has also made music for Bollywood and Hollywood films, including this year’s Monkey Man with Dev Patel, and acted in 1983’s Heat And Dust, a Merchant-Ivory production in which his character romanced Julie Christie.

His life and career were littered with awards, including receiving the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award for “exceptional and distinguished service”. He had previously won the third and fourth-highest civilian awards.

A child prodigy, Hussain learned early from his father Alla Rakha, another of India’s greatest tabla players.

He often claimed he learned the basic rhythm of the tabla from the first words his father whispered into his ears when he was first brought home after birth.

He played his first concert aged just seven and began touring a mere five years later.

After completing his education in Mumbai, where he was born, he left for America in 1970. By 19, Hussain was teaching at the University of Washington before joining Ustad Ali Akbar Khan’s music college in San Francisco.

He was also voted “sexiest man” by female readers of the Indian magazine Gentleman in 1994 in a competition against the likes of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

The jugalbandi, a duet between two solo musicians in Indian classical music has been a remarkable part of his performance.

Fans of the style treasured the playful melodramatic musical banter between Hussain and sitar legend Pandit Ravi Shankar, santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, flautist Hari Prasad Chaurasia, and sarangi stalwart Ustad Sultan Khan, as well as other classical Indian musicians.

Hussain is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, and his daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.

Entertainment

Robin Kaye: American Idol TV executive and her husband shot dead inside their Los Angeles home

Published

8 hours ago

July 16, 2025

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Robin Kaye: American Idol TV executive and her husband shot dead inside their Los Angeles home

An American Idol TV executive and her husband have been found dead in their LA home.

Robin Kaye was a music supervisor on the long-running reality TV series.

The bodies of the 70-year-old and her husband Thomas were discovered after officers conducted a welfare check at their home.

Both had died from gunshot wounds.

Detectives say Raymond Boodarian has been arrested in connection with their deaths.

It is alleged the 22-year-old had burgled their property while they were away on 10 July – killing the couple upon their return.

According to Los Angeles Police, there were “no signs of forced entry or trouble” at the property.

Ms Kaye was an industry veteran – and had previously worked on shows including Lip Sync Battle and The Singing Bee, as well as several Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.

In a statement, an American Idol spokesperson said: “Robin has been a cornerstone of the Idol family since 2009 and was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her.

“Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time.”

Entertainment

Action taken to stop ticketless Oasis fans from watching this week’s shows in Manchester

Published

9 hours ago

July 16, 2025

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Action taken to stop ticketless Oasis fans from watching this week's shows in Manchester

Huge steel fences have been erected to prevent ticketless fans from watching the Oasis reunion tour in Manchester.

Liam and Noel Gallagher will resume their sold-out run of shows – their first since 2009 – with a performance at Heaton Park tonight, and two more on Saturday and Sunday.

While tens of thousands bought tickets for Oasis’s first two shows last weekend, crowds gathered to glimpse the large screens above the stage in the distance – in an area dubbed “Gallagher Hill” by some on social media.

Manchester City Council has now said more steel fences have been erected around parts of the park to prevent ticketless fans from watching the gigs, and to protect nature in the park.

“After taking stock of how the first two nights went, additional measures have now been deemed necessary and will be in place for the next three concerts,” it said.

“The erection of the fencing has a dual purpose – both to protect the environment from further damage and to dissuade people from gathering there.

“The necessary measure means the concert will no longer be visible from this area.”

The fences will cover a large area of the hill within the park’s cattle field, which is being developed as a new woodland area with around 300 young trees planted.

The council added that there would be no facilities for people without a ticket, and said the event area is “double-walled with solid high security fencing all the way round”.

More than 2,000 event security staff and police officers will also be on duty around the site “to ensure both the safety and wellbeing of ticket-holders and that only those who have tickets access the concert”, it said.

John Hacking, the council’s executive member for employment, skills and leisure, also said in a statement that “unfortunately our hand has been forced in having to put these additional measures in place”.

He added: “Our advice to music fans who don’t have tickets for the concerts is to head into the city centre instead.

“The whole city is going all out to celebrate and help everyone have a good time.

“We’ve got some fantastic things going on with a real party atmosphere for everyone to enjoy, whether they’ve got tickets for the Oasis gigs or not.”

Entertainment

MasterChef presenter John Torode sacked

Published

16 hours ago

July 15, 2025

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MasterChef presenter John Torode will no longer work on the show after an allegation he used an “extremely offensive racist term” was upheld, the BBC has said.

His co-host Gregg Wallace was also sacked last week after claims of inappropriate behaviour.

On Monday, Torode said an allegation he used racist language was upheld in a report into the behaviour of Wallace. The report found more than half of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated.

Torode, 59, insisted he had “absolutely no recollection” of the alleged incident involving him and he “did not believe that it happened,” adding “racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment”.

In a statement on Tuesday, a BBC spokesperson said the allegation “involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace”.

The claim was “investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm Lewis Silkin”, they added.

“The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously,” the spokesperson said.

“We will not tolerate racist language of any kind… we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken.

“John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.”

Australian-born Torode started presenting MasterChef alongside Wallace, 60, in 2005.

A statement from Banijay UK said it “takes this matter incredibly seriously” and Lewis Silkin “substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode which occurred in 2018”.

“This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint,” the TV production company added.

“Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef.”

Earlier, as the BBC released its annual report, its director-general Tim Davie addressed MasterChef’s future, saying it can survive as it is “much bigger than individuals”.

Speaking to BBC News after Torode was sacked, Mr Davie said a decision is yet to be taken over whether an unseen MasterChef series – filmed with both Wallace and Torode last year – will be aired.

“It’s a difficult one because… those amateur chefs gave a lot to take part – it means a lot, it can be an enormous break if you come through the show,” he added.

“I want to just reflect on that with the team and make a decision, and we’ll communicate that in due course.”

Mr Davie refused to say what the “seriously racist term” Torode was alleged to have used but said: “I certainly think we’ve drawn a line in the sand.”

In 2022, Torode was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for services to food and charity.