 
Johann
Strauss Sr. (1804-1849)
Johann Strauss Sr. was born
on the 14th of March 1804, as the son of an innkeeper. The
location of his father's inn at the Danube Channel and the
neighboring harbor with it's rafts and boats from different
countries and the music played by the sailors, influenced
Johann Sr. enthusiasm for popular dance music.
After the death of both parents he began working as an apprentice
for bookbinding in 1816 and started studying the violin.
He got hired for the chapel of Michael Pamer as violin player
but soon Strauss decided to become independent with his
own orchestra and after a longer period of existential and
financial problems he managed his breakthrough. He started
to tour through Europe where he celebrated his popularity
and he even played at the crowning of Queen Victoria in
London.
His success was enormous and he became conductor of the
first civil regiment, where he composed the "Radetzky
Marsch".
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