# Zakir Hussain

> Indian tabla player, musical producer, film actor, and composer (1951–2024)

**Wikidata**: [Q144719](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q144719)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zakir_Hussain_(musician))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/zakir-hussain-q144719

## Summary
Zakir Hussain was an Indian tabla player, musical producer, film actor, and composer whose career spanned from 1963 to 2024. A prominent figure in Hindustani classical music, jazz, and world music, he was a member of the band Shakti and received high honors including the Padma Bhushan and the Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy.

## Biography
- **Born:** March 9, 1951
- **Nationality:** Indian
- **Education:** St. Xavier's College; University of Washington
- **Known for:** Tabla performance, musical composition, film acting, and production
- **Employer(s):** Shakti (band)
- **Field(s):** Music, Jazz, Hindustani classical music, Film, Performing arts, Tabla, Cinema

## Contributions
- **Shakti:** Served as a member of the band Shakti, a musical group formed in 1975.
- **Jazz Fusion:** Contributed to the development and performance of jazz fusion, a music genre that combines jazz harmony and improvisation with rock music, funk, and rhythm and blues.
- **Hindustani Classical Music:** Advanced the art music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent through his work as a tabla player.
- **World Music:** Participated in the world music genre, an umbrella term for traditional, indigenous, popular, or art music not following North American or British popular and folk traditions.
- **Composed Musical Works:** Created original pieces or works of music, either vocal or instrumental.
- **Music Production:** Engaged in the manufacturing process of musical works as a record producer.
- **Film Acting:** Appeared in films as an actor, contributing to the cinema industry.

## FAQs
- **What were Zakir Hussain's primary occupations?**
  He was a tabla player, musical producer, film actor, composer, percussionist, musician, jazz musician, record producer, and actor.
- **What genres of music was Zakir Hussain associated with?**
  His work encompassed Hindustani classical music, world music, jazz fusion, and jazz.
- **What awards did Zakir Hussain receive?**
  He received the Padma Bhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kalidas Samman, Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship.
- **Where did Zakir Hussain receive his education?**
  He attended St. Xavier's College, affiliated with the University of Mumbai, and the University of Washington.
- **Was Zakir Hussain a member of any musical groups?**
  Yes, he was a member of the band Shakti.

## Why They Matter
Zakir Hussain is significant for his role in globalizing the tabla and Indian classical music through his involvement in jazz fusion and world music. As a member of Shakti, he contributed to a genre that blends jazz with rock and funk, influencing the landscape of modern music. His recognition with the Padma Bhushan and the Kyoto Prize underscores his profound impact on both Indian culture and the global arts community.

## Notable For
- Receiving the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award of India.
- Receiving the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship.
- Receiving the Kalidas Samman, an arts award established in 1980.
- Receiving the Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy, a Japanese award for lifetime achievements.
- Being a member of the band Shakti, which began in 1975.
- Having a career work period starting in 1963.
- Holding the title "Ustad" (included in aliases).
- Being recognized as a composer, film actor, and record producer.

## Body
### Identity and Professional Roles
Zakir Hussain was a human and citizen of India. His professional roles were diverse, encompassing the occupations of musician, composer, record producer, film actor, actor, percussionist, jazz musician, and musical producer. He was also known by the aliases Zakir Hussain Allarakha Qureshi, Zakir Allarakha Qureshi, Zakir Hussain Qureshi, Zakir Allaraka Qureshi, and Ustad Zakir Hussain.

### Musical Genres and Styles
His work spanned several distinct musical categories. He was involved in Hindustani classical music, defined as the art music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. He also contributed to world music, an umbrella term for traditional, indigenous, popular, or art music not following North American or British popular and folk traditions. His engagement with jazz fusion, a genre that developed in the late 1960s combining jazz harmony and improvisation with rock music, funk, and rhythm and blues, was a significant part of his career. Additionally, he worked within the jazz musical style and genre.

### Career and Affiliations
Zakir Hussain's work period began in 1963. He was a member of the band Shakti, which had an inception date in 1975. His fields of work included music, jazz, Hindustani classical music, film, performing arts, tabla, and cinema.

### Education
He was educated at St. Xavier's College, an institution affiliated to the University of Mumbai, and the University of Washington, a public research university in Seattle, Washington, United States.

### Artistic Output and Production
His contributions included the creation of composed musical works, which are original pieces or works of music, either vocal or instrumental. He was involved in music production, the manufacturing process of a musical work. He also participated in acting, defined as the impersonation of a character in an artistic performance.

### Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, he received numerous accolades. These include the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award of India (inception 1954). He was honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the latter being an Indian honor for the performing arts (inception 1954). He received the Kalidas Samman, an arts award established in 1980, and the Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy, a Japanese award for lifetime achievements in the arts and philosophy (inception 1985).

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [Mort de Zakir Hussain, le prodige du tabla qui a fait le pont entre musique indienne et jazz. 2024](https://www.telerama.fr/musique/mort-de-zakir-hussain-le-prodige-du-tabla-qui-a-fait-le-pont-entre-musique-indienne-et-rock-7023505.php)
3. BnF authorities
4. [Festivals to Lead Carnegie’s Season. The New York Times. 2008](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/arts/music/30carn.html?8dpc)
5. datos.bne.es
6. Czech National Authority Database
7. Montreux Jazz Festival Database
8. [Zakir Hussain](https://www.kyotoprize.org/en/laureates/zakir_hussain/)
9. [Source](https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1814830)
10. [Source](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1893797)
11. International Standard Name Identifier
12. MusicBrainz
13. Virtual International Authority File
14. CiNii Research
15. Lingua Libre
16. SNAC
17. filmportal.de
18. [Source](https://www.npr.org/2024/12/15/nx-s1-5229593/zakir-hussain-dead-india-shakti-tabla)
19. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
20. BBC Things
21. ISWC Network
22. The Movie Database