Tabla Legend Zakir Hussain Dies: Grammy Winner, Global Music Pioneer Was 73
The HinduPublished : Dec 16, 2024 08:19 IST - 5 MINS READ His fingers flew, fluttered and floated in quicksilver changes of raga and rhythm, drumming up music and magic. “The mindset as I was growing up tuned itself to the idea that music is music, it’s not Indian music or that music, so when I actually started working with musicians who were non-Indian it seemed like a natural handshake,” Hussain told PTI almost a year ago ahead of a performance in Goa. Borders melted away when it came to his music In February, Hussain became the first musician from India to receive three Grammys at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in February for Best Global Music Album, Best Global Music Performance and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. At the 2024 Grammys, Hussain earned his first honour for best global music album for “This Moment” as part of the fusion music group Shakti, which includes founding member British guitarist John McLaughlin, as well as vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan and percussionist Selvaganesh Vinayakram. He later won two other awards for the best global music performance for “Pashto” and best contemporary instrumental album for “As We Speak”, along with flautist Rakesh Chaurasia, American banjo player Bela Fleck and American bassist Edgar Meyer.