Zakir Hussain is an Indian tabla player, composer, percussionist, music producer, and film actor. He is the eldest son of tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi.
Wiki/Biography
Zakir Hussain was born as Zakir Hussain Alla Rakha Qureshi on Friday, 9 March 1951 (age 72 years; as of 2023) in Bombay (now Mumbai). His zodiac sign is Pisces. Zakir attended St. Michael’s High School in Mahim, Mumbai, and pursued his graduation at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. He also completed his PhD and received a doctorate in music from the University of Washington. Zakir Hussain is settled in San Francisco, USA.
Zakir Hussain’s childhood picture
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
Weight (approx.): 60 kg
Hair Colour: Natural Black
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
Zakir Hussain’s father, Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi, was a renowned Indian tabla player who passed away on 3 February 2000 after suffering from a heart attack. Zakir’s mother was Bavi Begum. Zakir Hussain has two brothers, Taufiq Qureshi, who is a musician and a composer, and Fazal Qureshi, who is also a tabla player. Zakir has a sister named Khurshid. Zakir had a brother, Munawar, and two sisters, Bilquis and Razia, who are no more.
Zakir Hussain’s family photo
Zakir Hussain with his father, Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi (left)
Wife & Children
Zakir Hussain is married to an Italian-American Kathak dancer and teacher, Antonia Minnecola. They had three wedding ceremonies, a civil marriage, a Christian wedding, and a Muslim wedding. The couple met for the first time at the College of a famous Indian musician, Ali Akbar Khan, where Zakir was performing and Antonia had come to see the event. Antonia also worked as Zakir’s manager for some time after they got married.
Zakir Hussain with his wife, Antonia Minnecola
The couple has two daughters, Anisa Qureshi, and Isabella Qureshi. Both daughters were baptised after birth. Anisa Qureshi graduated from The University of California, Los Angeles, is a filmmaker and does video production. Isabella is a belle teacher, who holds a master’s in dancing from a college in Manhattan. She is a belle teacher.
(Left to right) Zakir Hussain, Antonia Minnecola, Isabella Qureshi, Anisa Qureshi, Taylor (Anisa’s husband), and Zara (Anisa’s daughter in white)
Relationships/Affairs
Before getting married to Antonia Minnecola, Zakir Hussain dated her for seven years.
Career (Tabla Maestro)
Live Performances & Concerts
Zakir Hussain commenced his professional tabla playing career at the age of 12 and made his American Tabla playing debut by performing with the Sitar maestro Ravi Shankar at The Filmore East in New York City. Zakir Hussain, along with many famous artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Pandit Birju Maharaj, and Ustad Tari Khan, has performed in different countries across the globe.
Zakir Hussain with Pandit Birju Maharaj (right)
Zakir Hussain organises his own concert named ‘Zakir Hussain and Masters of Percussion.’ The concert showcases the performance of Zakir and his entire band, which consists of different musicians from across the world. The concert is mainly conducted in the USA.
Zakir Hussain (in blue denim) with the members of the group ‘Zakir Hussain and Masters of Percussion’
Albums
Zakir Hussain made his album debut in 1972 with ‘Percussion From India, Tabla In Solo And Duet.’ The album was a collaboration with Zakir’s father, Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi, and was released under the HMV label.
Zakir’s debut album, ‘Percussion From India, Tabla In Solo And Duet’
Zakir was part of the 1983 album ‘Lilt On Sitar,’ which was a collaboration with different artists like Vijay Raghav Rao, Kartik Kumar, and Shamim Ahmed. In 1986, Zakir Hussain released his tabla solo album, ‘The Ultimate In Percussion Music- Ustad Zakir Hussain.’ The album consisted of 4 tabla solo pieces which were all composed by Zakir himself.
Zakir Hussain’s Tabla solo album ‘The Ultimate In Percussion Music- Ustad Zakir Hussain’
Zakir was part of the 1989 album ‘Excellent Sound of Sitar- Shahid Parvez At His Best.’ The album was a collaboration project with the Sitar player Shahid Parvez. In 1990, Zakir Hussain released an album with Adnan Sami, ‘The One And Only.’ The album’s prime genre was Jazz and Folk, and it has 5 tracks in total.
Zakir Hussain’s collaboration album with Adnan Sami, ‘The One And Only’
In 1991, Zakir released his album ‘The Zakir Hussain Rhythm Experience.’ The album included various musicians like Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi, Mickey Hart, Fazal Qureshi, and Mel Martin. In 2007, Zakir Hussain, along with famous drummer Mickey Hart, Sikiru Adepoju, and Giovanni Hidalgo, released an album ‘Global Drum Project.’ The album had total 8 songs, and Zakir did the percussions and vocals for it.
Zakir Hussain (extreme left) with the team of ‘Global Drum Project’
Film Music Composer
Zakir Hussain composed the music for many films like the Malayalam film ‘Vanaprastham: The Last Dance’ (1999). The film was nominated for The Cannes Film Festival. Zakir Hussain did music for the film ‘In Custody’ (1993). The film was the visual depiction of the novel ‘In Custody,’ written by Anita Desai. Zakir Hussain produced and composed music for the film ‘The Mystic Masseur,’ which was released in 2001. The film was based on the novel of the same name, written by V. S. Naipaul.
TV Commercial
In 1990, Zakir Hussain was cast and made the brand ambassador of the TV commercial of Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea. Zakir was seen playing the tabla in front of the Taj Mahal. This TV commercial gave Zakir immense recognition worldwide.
Shakti- The Fusion Band
Zakir Hussain, along with the English Guitarist John McLaughlin, Indian violin player L. Shankar, and Indian percussionist Vikku Vinayakram, formed a fusion band with the name ‘Shakti’ in 1974. The band was famous for its style of curating Indian Classical Music with jazz. The band stopped performing in 1978 and in 2020, it was revived with a new name, ‘Remember Shakti,’ with new members. The band now consists of Zakir Hussain, John McLaughlin, and Shankar Mahadevan. The band released its first album on 23 June 2023, ‘This Moment,’ after a long gap of 45 years.
(Left to right) Zakir Hussain, John McLaughlin, and Shankar Mahadevan
The band won the Best Global Music Album award for ‘This Moment’ at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2024.
Zakir Hussain, along with other band members, at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- Zakir Hussain received the Padma Shri in 1988 for his contribution to the field of Indian Classical music.
- In 1990, Zakir Hussain received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award as the youngest musician to receive the recognition.
- In 1990, Zakir Hussain received ‘The National Heritage Fellowship’ from ‘The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA),’ a US government Honor for traditional awards. Hillary Clinton presented the award.
- Zakir Hussain received the third-highest civilian award in India, The Padma Bhushan, in 2002.
- In 2006, Zakir Hussain received ‘The Kalidas Samman,’ from the government of Madhya Pradesh, for his exceptional achievements in the field of art and music.
- In 2006, Zakir Hussain was nominated for the Grammy Award for ‘The Best Traditional World Music Album.’
- In 2009, Zakir Hussain won the 51st Grammy Award for ‘Best Contemporary World Music Album’ for his collaborative album ‘Global Drum Project,’ with Mickey Hart, Sikiru Adepoju, and Giovanni Hidalgo.
- In 2017, Zakir Hussain received the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the San Francisco Jazz Centre.
- In 2019, The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama honored Zakir Hussain with the ‘Academy Fellow Award.’
- Zakir Hussain received the second-highest civilian award in India, The Padma Vibhushan, in 2022.
- In 2022, Mumbai University awarded the Doctoral Degree of Law to Zakir Hussain for his contributions to music.
- Zakir Hussain is the 2022 Kyoto Prize (Japan’s highest private award for global achievement) holder, which was awarded by the Inamori Foundation.
Zakir Hussain’s Kyoto Prize Medal
- At Konark Dance & Music Festival in 2012, held in Odisha, India, Zakir Hussain received the Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Award.
Facts/Trivia
- Zakir Hussain learnt to play Mridangam, a percussion instrument, from his father when he was just three years old.
- In 2016, Zakir Hussain was invited by the then-American President, Barack Obama, to attend the All-Star Global Concert held in the White House. Zakir was the first Indian musician invited.
- In 1973, Zakir Hussain did a collaboration studio album with George Harrison, the lead guitarist of the famous English band ‘The Beatles.’ The album was called ‘Living in the Material World.’
- Zakir Hussain loves eating Carrot Halwa and Gulab Jamun whenever he visits India.
- In 1999, Zakir Hussain, in collaboration with the American bass guitarist, Bill Laswell, formed a musical group named ‘Tabla Beat Science.’
Zakir Hussain during a live performance of the group ‘Tabla Beat Science’
- Zakir Hussain is the owner of ‘Moment! Records,’ a record label founded in 1991 with a mission of presenting the best moments from his live performances worldwide.
- Nasreen Munni Kabir, an author based in the United Kingdom, wrote a book on Zakir Hussain and his journey in the field of music titled ‘Zakir Hussain: A Life in Music.’ The book was released in 2018.
Nasreen Munni Kabir’s book ‘Zakir Hussain A Life In Music’ based on Zakir’s musical journey
- Zakir Hussain played solo and was cast in the documentary ‘Zakir and His Friends’ (1997).
Zakir Hussain’s documentary ‘Zakir And His Friends’
- In 2003, Zakir Hussain was cast in his documentary ‘The Speaking Hand: Zakir Hussain and the Art of the Indian Drum.’ The documentary showcased the growth and journey of the Tabla maestro.
- Zakir Hussain was cast in the British historical romantic drama film ‘Heat and Dust’ (1983). Zakir played the role of Inder Lal. The film also starred Indian actors like Shashi Kapoor and Ratna Pathak. Zakir was also the associate music director of the film.
Zakir Hussain in a still from the British historical film ‘Heat and Dust’ (1983)
- Zakir Hussain’s mother was strictly against his decision to pursue a career in music.
- Zakir Hussain’s marriage was a secret kept from his mother as she was against inter-caste marriage. Zakir’s father told her about the marriage after a few days.
- In his twenties, Zakir Hussain played in around 150 concerts per year.
- When Zakir Hussain was brought home after birth, his father took him in his arms and recited musical notes and rhythms in his ears, instead of a prayer which was actually the tradition in Islam.
- Zakir Hussain started doing school concerts at the age of 7.
- Zakir Hussain did his first professional concert in India at the age of 12, and he earned Rs. 100 for it.
- At the age of 19, Zakir Hussain was appointed as an assistant professor at the University of Washington (Seatle). Pandit Ravi Shankar (Sitar maestro) recommended Zakir’s name for the position of professor at the university.
- In 2015, Zakir Hussain was appointed as Regents Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley.
- Zakir Hussain conducts workshops and lectures every year at Princeton University, New Jersey, and Stanford University, California.
- Zakir Hussain has been conducting tabla workshops every year in the San Francisco Bay Area for 30 years.
Zakir Hussain’s tabla workshop in San Francisco
- Zakir Hussain was the artistic director of the San Francisco Jazz Centre from 2013 to 2016.
- Zakir Hussain loves spending time with his granddaughter, Zara. He often shares pictures of her on social media.
Zakir Hussain with his granddaughter, Zara
- Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (right)
- Zakir Hussain has composed 3 concertos (compositions for a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra). His third concerto was premiered by the Symphony Orchestra of India. In 2017, it was premiered at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It was also premiered in the United Kingdom and Europe.
- Zakir Hussain has been multiple times voted as the ‘Best Percussionist’ by Downbeat Critics’ Poll and Modern Drummer’s Reader’s Poll.
- Zakir Hussain has collaborated with many famous international artists like Charles Lloyd, Eric Harland, Dave Holland, Edger Meyer, and Herbie Hancock.
- Zakir Hussain is also a drummer and often shares photos and videos of him playing the instrument on social media.
Zakir Hussain in his element
- Zakir Hussain’s first solo public concert was held in Pune, Maharashtra, in the early 1960’s.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education