Zakir Hussain, one of the world’s greatest tabla players, has died at the age of 73.
The Indian classical music icon died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease, at a hospital in San Francisco, his family said in a statement.
Hussain was a four-time Grammy award winner and has received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award.
Through his performances, he transformed the tabla into a globally loved solo instrument that was the star of the show.
English guitarist John McLaughlin – who performed with Hussain in the band Shakti – described him as “the King, in whose hands, rhythm became magic”.
Grammy winning composer Ricky Kej called him “one of the greatest musicians and personalities India has ever produced”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “a true genius who revolutionised the world of Indian classical music”.
Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi said Hussain’s death was “a great loss for the music world”.
