Skate Tunes

You probably thing today's offering is going to include popular music to skate by,but it goes back to the first roller skates. The first patented roller skate was introduced in 1760 by a violinist named Joseph Merlin (presumably no relation to the magician). He wore them to a party where he had been invited to perform with his violin and crashed into a mirror,after that excursion the skates were put aside. In 1863 an improvement was made on the original design allowing skaters to be able to easily turn,this improvement was the beginning of skating as a popular pastime. There have been periods when skating falls from favor,but it always seems to make a comeback.
I was surprised to learn that skates were invented that long ago,and by a violinist,but those creative types are full of surprise!