Zakir Hussain: Indian tabla maestro and Grammy-winning musician dies
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.”
Zakir Hussain performing in New Delhi in 2009. File pic: AP
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
Zakir Hussain (C), with Edgar Meyer (L), and Rakesh Chaurasia, won Best Global Music Performance for Pashto at the 2024 Grammys in Los Angeles. Pic: AP
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.
Read more:
Indian actor arrested after woman dies
Indian farmers clash with police
Golden Temple assassination attempt
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
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
Read more from Sky News:
Ticketless Oasis fans blocked from gig
American Idol executive shot dead
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
Entertainment
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.
Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas. Pic: Facebook
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.
Read more US news:
Trump to ‘refine trade deal’ with UK
Unreleased Beyonce music stolen
Pic: ABC7 Los Angeles
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
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.
People walk past a temporary security fence erected ahead of concerts by Oasis in Heaton Park on 1 July. Reuters file pic
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.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Friday: Excited fans at Oasis homecoming gig
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.
Read more:
What was Oasis’s first show in 16 years like?
Fans queue all day for Manchester homecoming gig
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.”
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike