Tabla player Zakir Hussain, 73, has been admitted to the ICU of a San Francisco hospital due to cardiac problems, according to his family and friends on Sunday. Hussain, who brought tabla to the global stage, was suffering from blood pressure problem, this was confirmed by his manager Nirmala Bachani.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting initially announced Zakir Hussain’s death on its ‘X’ page but later removed the post.
Amid false reports of his death, Hussain’s sister Khurshid clarified to PTI that though her brother’s condition remains ‘very critical’, he is still alive. “My brother is very ill at the moment. We are asking all his fans in India and around the world to pray for him, to pray for his health. But as India’s largest exporter by far, he Don’t finish yet.” Said.
She urged the media to refrain from spreading misinformation: “I just want to request all the media not to give false information about Zakir’s demise. He is breathing heavily at the moment. His condition is very critical. But he is still with us.” He hasn’t gone yet. So, I would request (the media) not to spread rumors by writing or saying that he has passed away, I feel very bad seeing all this information on Facebook, which is very wrong.
“He has been admitted to a hospital in San Francisco for the last two weeks due to a heart problem,” Bachani told PTI.
Hussain’s publicist also confirmed to the news agency that the percussionist is being treated in San Francisco and is “absolutely alive.”
Zakir Hussain: Tabla player
Born in Bombay, the eldest son of renowned tabla player Allah Rakha, Zakir Hussain followed in his father’s footsteps and became a global icon. Hussain’s wife Antonia Minnecola is a Kathak dancer and teacher. The couple have two daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.
In a career spanning six decades, Zakir Hussain worked with many renowned artists, both Indian and international. His 1973 project with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar and percussionist TH ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram was groundbreaking. This collaboration fused Indian classical music with jazz, creating a unique sound that had never been heard before. Throughout his career, Hussain has won five Grammy Awards, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year.
He is considered one of the most famous classical musicians of India. Hussain received the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, in 1988; Padma Bhushan in 2002; And Padma Vibhushan in 2023.
Tabla has also appeared in several films including Legend Saaz and Heat and Dust. His latest film, Monkey Man, was released in 2024.
