Swedish pop singer Marie Fredriksson, known for forming and singing in the band Roxette, passed away on December 9, 2019, following a 17-year battle with cancer. She was 61 years old.
After graduating from music school in 1977, Fredriksson enjoyed a successful career in her native country as a member of the punk group Strul. The band later formed their own independent music festival, called “Strulfestivalen,” which was held every summer for three years, until 1981. Following the band’s dissolution, Fredriksson began releasing solo work, including the albums Het vind, Den sjunde vågen, and Efter stromen. She went on to form the punk rock duo Roxette, alongside Per Gessle, achieving global fame.
Roxette’s breakout single “The Look” took the number one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1989. The band went on to have five more singles top the charts – “Listen to Your Heart,” “Dangerous,” “Joyride,” “Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave),” and “It Must Have Been Love.” This latter song became even more of a smash hit after featuring in the soundtrack of Pretty Woman, starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. The pair sold 80 million records worldwide and toured extensively, with Fredriksson gaining recognition as a talented live performer.
In 2002, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent aggressive treatment. She returned to performing with Roxette by 2009 even releasing the albums Charm School, Traveling and Good Karma. Unfortunately, Fredriksson’s decreasing health led to her retirement from touring in 2016. Despite this, she still managed to release three non-album singles: “Alone Again,” “I Want to Go,” and “Sing Me a Song.”
“You were an outstanding musician, a master of the voice, an amazing performer. I’m proud, honored and happy to have been able to share so much of your time, talent, warmth, generosity and your sense of humor. Things will never be the same,” Gessle wrote in tribute to Fredriksson on Facebook.
Fredriksson is survived by her husband, Mikael Bolyos, and their two children, Josefin and Oscar.
