Origins & Early Life

Victor Marlborough Silvester (25 February 1900 – 14 August 1978) was an English dancer, writer, musician and bandleader from the British dance band era. He was a significant figure in the development of ballroom dance during the first half of the 20th century, and his records sold 75 million copies from the 1930s through to the 1980s. Silvester was born the second son of a vicar in Wembley, Middlesex, England. He was educated at Ardingly College, St.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

John's School, Leatherhead and John Lyon School, Harrow, from all of which he absconded. Silvester claimed that he enlisted in the British Army on 4 September 1916, during the First World War, serving as a private in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and that he lied about his age to the recruiting authorities, stating this as 20 whereas he was only 16. He supposedly took part in the Battle of Arras in April/May 1917, and said he was a member of five execution squads, where deserters were shot.However, the release of his service records in 2000 revealed that he had been discharged from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as underage on 12 September 1916, after just a week of service. However, he immediately joined...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Copland — Contemporary (Born in 1900) (1900): Pioneering American composer, conductor, and critic, known as the "Dean of American Music".
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• Amadou Hampâté Bâ — Contemporary (Born in 1900) (1900): Malian writer, historian, and ethnologist championing Africa's oral traditions.
• Ayumi Hamasaki — Contemporary (Born in 1978) (1978): Japanese Pop Icon, 'Empress of Pop,' best-selling solo artist in Japan.
• Balabhaskar — Contemporary (Born in 1978) (1978): Pioneering Indian violinist and composer known for promoting fusion music.
• Bruce Catton — Contemporary (Died in 1978) (1978): American historian and journalist renowned for his popular accounts of the Civil War.
• Albrecht von Wallenstein — Shared historical date (02-25 · Died) (1634): Bohemian military leader and statesman, key figure in the Thirty Years' War.
• Benedetto Croce — Shared historical date (02-25 · Born) (1866): Italian idealist philosopher, historian, and political liberal.
• Bertolt Brecht — Shared historical date (08-14 · Died) (1956): Pioneering German playwright and poet, master of epic theatre techniques.
• Bob Johnston — Shared historical date (08-14 · Died) (2015): Pioneering American record producer celebrated for shaping the careers of Dylan, Cash, and Cohen.
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