Renowned tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, passes away at 73, the news was broken on social media by his family, after two weeks of hospitalization, his condition deteriorated

Hussain leaves behind an unmatched legacy as a global ambassador of Indian classical music

Hussain succumbed to complications stemming from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare and severe lung condition

The musician had been admitted to a hospital in San Francisco for two weeks prior and was later transferred to the ICU as his health took a turn for the worse

Zakir Hussain, hailed as one of the greatest tabla players of his era, leaves behind his wife, Antonia Minnecola, and two daughters, Anisa and Isabella Qureshi

"His unmatched legacy will continue to inspire and be celebrated by music enthusiasts worldwide, leaving an enduring impact on generations to come," the family shared in their statement

Over a remarkable career spanning six decades, Hussain collaborated with a host of distinguished Indian and international artists

Among his many achievements, his groundbreaking 1973 collaboration with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L. Shankar, and percussionist T.H. 'Vikku' Vinayakram stood out

In 1988, Hussain became a cultural icon and a household name through his association with the Taj Mahal Tea brand

Hussain’s journey in music began at the tender age of seven, and he went on to collaborate with nearly all the luminaries of Indian classical music, including Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and Shivkumar Sharma

Throughout his illustrious career, Hussain earned four Grammy Awards, three of which were awarded at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year

Widely regarded as one of India’s most revered classical musicians, he was honored with the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023