Indian classical maestro Zakir Hussain, who at 73 years of age was still playing the tablas at an unmatched pace, breathed his last on December 15 in San Francisco. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare and progressive lung illness that makes breathing more difficult, caused the maestro’s death.
In front of intimate friends, relatives, and fellow artists who had come to pay their respects, Hussain’s family conducted his last rites at a San Francisco cemetery. His family posted a touching remembrance on his official Instagram account. With the description, “Always together in love,” the post included a heartwarming black-and-white image of Zakir holding hands with his wife, Antonia Minnecola, and children, Anisa and Isabella Qureshi.
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Zakir Hussain was born to legendary tabla player Alla Rakha and was a true pioneer of blending Indian classical traditions with global influences. His mastery in art created music beyond linguistic and cultural barriers.
He was the son of the famous tabla player Alla Rakha. Zakir Hussain, a trendsetter who creatively blended international ideas with Indian traditional traditions, was indeed a great musician who brought out music that cut across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
Though he is no more with us, the mesmerizing rhythms he created on his tabla will resonate forever in the hearts and minds of fans. His family stated their grief, confirming that he died due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and asked for privacy in this period of mourning.