Tabla master Zakir Hussain, who battled heart problems, died today in a US hospital. He was 73.

His manager, Nirmala Bachani, said he was taken to a hospital in San Francisco.

“Zakir Hussain, the incomparable North Indian tabla player, prefers a mischievous brand of virtuosity. He’s a fearsome technician, but also a quirky inventor dedicated to exuberant gaming. That’s why he rarely seems pretentious, even when the fuzziness of his fingers keeps up with the beat of.” “The wings of a hummingbird,” the New York Times wrote about the artist when he performed at Carnegie Hall in 2009.

Zakir Hussain, the Bombay-born eldest son of legendary tabla player Allah Rakha, followed in his father’s footsteps and became a household name in India and around the world.

Recounting the story of his first booking, the drummer said a letter arrived at their home offering his father a concert date. Zakir wrote back and said his father could not accept the engagement but his son was available. However, he did not mention in the letter that he was only 13 years old. It worked and his musical career took off.

As the news spread, tributes poured in from executives, industrialists and musicians from around the world.

Minister Nitin Gadkari described the artist’s death as an “irreparable loss to the country’s art and music sector”.

“The news of the death of famous tabla player Padma Vibhushan Ustad Zakir Hussain is extremely sad. I pay him my deepest respect. His death is an irreparable loss for the country’s arts and music sector. His contribution to the field of art is unparalleled.” His commitment to his art and contribution will always be remembered. May God grant peace to the departed soul and strength to the family and fans. Mr. Gadkari posted on X.

“Zakir Hussain Ji’s Tabla spoke a universal language that transcends borders, cultures and generations,” said Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Industrialist Anand Mahindra wrote, “The rhythm of India took a break today.” He posted a video of a jugalbandi between the tabla player and late singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

The rhythm of India took a break today…

As a tribute.

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽#ZakirHussain
pic.twitter.com/eknPqw4uKM

– anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) December 15, 2024

Harsh Goenka, Chairman, RPG Enterprises, said that the tabla player’s “beats will resonate forever.”

“The world falls silent when the tabla loses its maestro. Ustad Zakir Hussain, a rhythmic genius who brought the soul of India to the world stage, has left us. I had the privilege of knowing him through his association with HMV and hearing him perform at.” “His beats will resonate forever,” Mr Goenka posted on X with a clip of the artist in action.

The world falls silent when the tabla loses its maestro. Ustad Zakir Hussain, a rhythmic genius who brought the soul of India to the world stage, has left us. I had the privilege of meeting him through his association with HMV and hearing him perform at our home. His beats will echo… pic.twitter.com/TJ5aaLbsqZ

– Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) December 15, 2024

A recipient of numerous awards, he has received five Grammy Awards throughout his career, including three at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards earlier this year.

In his six-decade career, the musician collaborated with several renowned international and Indian artists, but it was his 1973 musical project with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L. Shankar and drummer TH “Vikku” Vinayakram that brought Indian classical and Jazz brought together elements of Indian music in a previously unknown fusion.

The drummer, one of India’s most celebrated classical musicians, received the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.