Johann Strauss II was born in Vienna on 25th October 1825.
He was the son of Johann Strauss I who was a musician and did not prove of his son's interest in music. However, Johann Strauss II took up the violin and directed his own orchestra (1844-49) in competition with his father's. After his father's death he merged their 2 orchestra's in 1849 and found instant fame with his many waltzes, polka's, marches, opera's, etc...
Strauss II died in Vienna on 3rd June 1899.
The Blue Danube Waltzes, perhs Strauss's most famous work was originally composed for voices. It was composed at Vienna in 1867.