Tribute to father Tabla player Zakir Hussain performs at the event A Homage to Abbaji (“father”) in Mumbai in 2013, commemorating the 13th barsi (death anniversary) of his father and tabla player, Alla Rakha. (more) Zakir Hussain Indian tabla player and composer Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Zakir-Hussain Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Zakir Hussain Allaraka Qureshi Written by Anoushka Pant Anoushka Pant holds a degree in elementary education, with a focus on mathematics, education, and psychology, from Miranda House, University of Delhi. Anoushka Pant Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Feb 20, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Quick Facts Also called: Zakir Hussain Allaraka Qureshi (Show more) Born: March 9, 1951, Bombay [now Mumbai], India (Show more) Died: December 15, 2024, San Francisco, California, United States (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Who was Zakir Hussain? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Zakir Hussain was an Indian tabla player and composer known for his contributions to Hindustani classical music and collaborations with international artists." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Which gharana (a school of music with a distinctive style) was Zakir Hussain trained in? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Zakir Hussain was trained primarily in the Punjab gharana by his father, Alla Rakha, and was exposed to techniques from other gharanas, broadening his knowledge of styles." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What were some of Zakir Hussainu2019s notable collaborations? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Zakir Hussain collaborated with international artists such as Mickey Hart, Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, and Bu00E9la Fleck. He founded the band Shakti with John McLaughlin, blending Hindustani classical music and jazz." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What awards and recognitions did Zakir Hussain receive? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Zakir Hussain received numerous awards, including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and several Grammy Awards." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What was unique about Zakir Hussainu2019s musical style? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Zakir Hussainu2019s style was rooted in traditional tabla techniques, but he was known for introducing innovative variations and experimenting with unconventional time signatures." } } ] } Top Questions Who was Zakir Hussain? Zakir Hussain was an Indian tabla player and composer known for his contributions to Hindustani classical music and collaborations with international artists.

　　Which gharana (a school of music with a distinctive style) was Zakir Hussain trained in? Zakir Hussain was trained primarily in the Punjab gharana by his father, Alla Rakha, and was exposed to techniques from other gharanas, broadening his knowledge of styles.

　　What were some of Zakir Hussain’s notable collaborations? Zakir Hussain collaborated with international artists such as Mickey Hart, Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, and Béla Fleck. He founded the band Shakti with John McLaughlin, blending Hindustani classical music and jazz.

　　What awards and recognitions did Zakir Hussain receive? Zakir Hussain received numerous awards, including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and several Grammy Awards.

　　What was unique about Zakir Hussain’s musical style? Zakir Hussain’s style was rooted in traditional tabla techniques, but he was known for introducing innovative variations and experimenting with unconventional time signatures.

　　Zakir Hussain (born March 9, 1951, Bombay [now Mumbai], India—died December 15, 2024, San Francisco, California, United States) was an Indian tabla player and composer known for his contributions to Hindustani classical music and his collaborations with international artists. Over a career spanning six decades, he worked with musicians from many genres—jazz, rock, and folk—expanding the reach of Indian percussion worldwide. Zakir Hussain Allaraka Qureshi’s father was tabla player Alla Rakha, who traced his lineage to the Punjab gharana (a school of music with a distinctive style). Hussain trained primarily in the Punjab gharana, but his father also exposed him ...(100 of 712 words)

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