johann strauss ii (born vienna, october 25 1825; died vienna june 3 1899) was an austrian composer, conductor and violinist. his father, also called johann, was also a very famous composer, and is now known as johann strauss i (or johann strauss sr) while his eldest son is called johann strauss ii (or johann strauss jr). strauss became very famous for his waltzes. he was known as the “king of the waltz”. his most famous one was called "an der schönen, blauen donau" (known in english as "the blue danube").