| Zakir Hussain (musician) |
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Zakir Hussain (born March 9 , 1951 ), son of Tabla maestro Ustad Allarakha , is the most famous classical tabla player in India today. He is appreciated both in the field of Percussion and in the music world at large as an international phenomenon. Zakir has won many awards and recognitions for his contribution to the world of Music . A classical tabla virtuoso of the highest order, his consistently brilliant and exciting performances have not only established him as a national treasure in his own country, but gained him worldwide fame. EARLY LIFE The gifted son of his father, tabla legend Ustad Alla Rakha, Zakir was touring by the age of twelve. He did his schooling from St. Michael's High School in Mahim. He completed his graduation from St Xaviers, Mumbai . Zakir went to the United States in 1970 , embarking on an international career which includes no fewer than 150 concert dates a year. PROCEEDINGS during a Shakti concert]] Zakir has worked with many western and Indian artists alike, and has produced many works for fusion, perhaps most notably with The Beatles . He has also worked with John McLaughlin in Shakti in 1975 and with L. Shankar in the Diga Rhythm Band. Although Shakti was disbanded a few years later, it reunited under the name ''Remember Shakti''. In 1987 , his first solo release, "Making Music," was acclaimed as "one of the most inspired East-West fusion albums ever recorded." In 1988 , he became the youngest percussionist to ever be awarded the title of Padma Shri . In 1990 , he was awarded the Indo-American Award in recognition for his outstanding cultural contribution to relations between the United States and India . In April, 1991 , he was presented with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by the President of India, making him one of the youngest musicians to receive this recognition from India's governing cultural institute. In 1992 , Planet Drum, an album co-created and produced by Zakir and Mickey Hart , was awarded a Grammy for Best World Music Album, the Downbeat Critics Poll for Best World Beat Album, and the NARM Indie Best Seller Award for World Music Recording. Planet Drum, with Zakir as music director, toured nationally in 1996 and 1997. Zakir also continues to tour with the musicians from Shakti — John McLaughlin, Shankar and T.H. Vinayakram — in different collaborations and ensembles as well as leading various percussion ensembles of his own design. In Summer'99, Shakti re-grouped for an international tour. In 1992, Zakir founded live concert performances by great masters of the classical music of India. The label presents Zakir's own world percussion ensemble, The Rhythm Experience, both North and South Indian classical recordings, Best of Shakti, and a Masters of Percussion series. He has collaborated with the bassist on many of his other recordings, Making Music, Planet Drum with Mickey Hart, and recordings and performances with artists as diverse as George Harrison , Vasant Rai, Imrat Khan , Ravi Shankar , Joe Henderson , Van Morrison , Jack Bruce , Tito Puente , Pharoah Sanders , Billy Cobham , the Hong Kong Symphony and the New Orleans Symphony. IN PRESENT LIFE Zakir is a founding member of Bill Laswell's 'World Music Supergroup' Tabla Beat Science . He was also a visiting professor at Princeton University for one semester. Most recently, he has also composed soundtracks for movies; notable movies are ''In Custody'' by Ismail Merchant , Bernardo Bertolucci 's '' Little Buddha '', and ''Heat and Dust''. Zakir composed, performed and acted as Indian music advisor and Vanaprastham, chosen to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival in May, 1999 . He is also the recipient of the 1999 National Heritage Fellowship , the United States' most prestigious honor for a master in the traditional arts. DISCOGRAPHY
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
Zakir received the distinct honor of co-composing the opening music for the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 1996 , and was commissioned to compose music for San Francisco 's premiere contemporary ballet company, Lines, and to compose an original work for the San Francisco Jazz Festival, both in 1998. He has received numerous grants and awards, including participation in the Meet the Composer programs funded by the Pew Memorial Trust. REFERENCES |
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