Ustad Alla Rakha, India's leading virtuoso of the tabla and one of the world's greatest and most influential percussionists, died suddenly last year 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 virtuosi 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.