In The Groove

Rhythm and percussion serve as the universal passkey to the world's music, connecting an American rock and roll drummer with the master of Indian tabla, the "Mozart of the Nigerian talking drum," and a renowned conga player. Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Sikiru Adepoju, and Giovanni Hidalgo collectively form Planet Drum. The inception of Planet Drum traces back to Mickey Hart's 1968 encounter with the legendary Indian tabla player Allarakha, known for accompanying Ravi Shankar. At that time, Hart, a member of the Grateful Dead, had already achieved significant success. However, his fervor for exploring diverse rhythmic realms was just beginning. Collaborating with Allarakha introduced unique time signatures to the Dead's repertoire. Subsequently, Allarakha bestowed upon Mickey his most precious gift by introducing him to his future rhythmic partner, Allarakha's son, Zakir Hussain.