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Ustaad Alla Rakha, India's leading virtuouso of the tabla and one of the world's greatest and most influential percussionists,
died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 81. Revered in India, and the acknowledged master of the Punjab gharana (school)
of tabla performance, Alla Rakha's achievement was truly international. First coming to the attention of world audiences as
accompanist for Ravi Shankar in the 1960's and 1970's, Alla Rakha had already established his reputation in India as one of
the century's great masters of rhythm. He was personally responsible for elevating the tabla from its secondary position as
an accompanying instrument to that of a virtuosic solo instrument of vast power and complexity. Alla Rakha was born on April
29, 1919 in Ratangarh, but at an early age moved to Lahore (Pakistan), where he studied tabla with Ustad Kader Bux and voice
with Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan. He began broadcasting for All India Radio, Delhi, in 1936. In the 1940's he worked in the film
industry, composing and performing in the semi-pop style typical of Hindi films. Returning to classical music, he soon became
recognized as a world-class percussionist, accompanying both Ravi Shankar and Vilayat Khan, among others. A forward-looking
exponent of World Music and fusion, Alla Rakha recorded a duo album with Buddy Rich ("Rich a la Rakha") for World
Pacific. Also, to his credit, he encouraged his son and disciple Zakir Hussain, to work both in classical and fusion music.
When Zakir Hussain received the National Heritage Award in 1999, he said, "It's a very special feeling to be able to
(metaphorically) pay my father back for all that he has done for me." Among Alla Rakha's many other disciples were his
second son Fazal Quereshi, and Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, who credits Alla Rakha for the rhythmic interest and complexity
in the Grateful Dead's music from the late 60's and 70's. We mourn the passing of one of the greatest rhythm masters of our
time.
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