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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. 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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