Ustad Zakir Hussain, tabla maestro known for Taj Mahal tea dies

Ustad Zakir Hussain, tabla maestro and the winner of three Grammys has died because of heart complications in the U.S at the age of 73 years.

With six decades of work, Hussain earned his title as 'Ustaad'. This year his band Shakti won a Grammy.  He claims four Grammy Awards in the past. Born on March 9, 1951, Hussain, is son of legendary tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha. He is a classical musician who received the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.

A fusion never seen before is his 1973 project with McLaughlin, L Shankar, and Vikku Vinayakram mixed Indian classical music with jazz. His collaborations with western artists brought Indian classical music to an international audience such as Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Mickey Hart, and George Harrison.

He grew in fame with  in 1988 as the face of the Taj Mahal Tea. The exceptional Hussain played tabla near the Taj Mahal, drank tea, and humorously responded, "Arre huzoor, wah Taj boliye!" It remains memorable. The ad became a cultural landmark making Hussain the face of Taj Mahal Tea.