At the 66th Grammy Awards in the US, Ustad Zakir Hussain achieved a remarkable feat by winning three awards. The renowned tabla player and music composer secured the prestigious ‘Best Global Music Performance’ for ‘Pashto.’ In his heartfelt acceptance speech, Hussain expressed gratitude to the Academy and fellow musicians. Additionally, the collaboration ‘As We Speak,’ featuring Hussain, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia, clinched the Grammy for ‘Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.’
Further contributing to the success, Hussain’s involvement in the Jazz group ‘Shakti’ led to the group winning ‘The Best Global Music Album’ award for their latest release, ‘This Moment.’ This album, featuring accomplished artists like John McLaughlin, Shankar Mahadevan, V Selvaganesh, and Ganesh Rajagopalan, showcased the diversity and talent of the ensemble.
Despite a loss in the ‘Best Instrumental Composition’ category for ‘Motion,’ where they were nominated for the track ‘Helena’s Theme,’ the overall triumph at the Grammys marked a historic moment for Zakir Hussain and his collaborators. Fans across India celebrated the wins on social media, with music composer Ricky Kej acknowledging the living legend’s three Grammy victories in one night. The awards ceremony, held in Los Angeles, underscored Hussain’s enduring impact on global music.
