Biography
Zakir Hussain is a virtuoso percussionist, composer, and world-renowned master of the tabla, an Indian hand drum. Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, India, Zakir is the son of the legendary tabla player and teacher, Ustad Allah Rakha. From a young age, Zakir was immersed in the world of music and began performing publicly at the age of seven.
His illustrious career has spanned decades and continents, allowing him to collaborate with a plethora of artists across varied genres, including Ravi Shankar, John McLaughlin, Mickey Hart, Bela Fleck, and L. Shankar, among others. Through his performances, Zakir has introduced the beauty of Indian classical music to global audiences, earning numerous awards, including the prestigious Padma Bhushan from the Indian government.
A passionate educator, Zakir Hussain has also dedicated time to teaching the next generation of musicians, often conducting workshops and lectures worldwide. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at Stanford University.