Roxette’s Marie Fredriksson passed away yesterday at the age of 61 after a 17-year-long battle with cancer.
In 1984, Fredriksson began her career in Sweden as a solo artist and had great success. Two years after that, she released her first album with Per Gessle and Roxette was born. The duo dominated the international charts in the early ’90s with songs like The Look, Listen To Your Heart, It Must Have Been Love, Joyride and Dangerous.
In 2002, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The treatment, even though successful, took its toll on her in. However, in 2009, she did not let the sickness win; Roxette hit the road and released some new music. Sadly in 2016, doctors told she needed to give up touring and focus on her health. Something she did until yesterday.
Her bandmate and friend of 40 years, said this about her, “Thank you, Marie, thanks for everything. You were an outstanding musician, a master of the voice, an amazing performer. Thanks for painting my black and white songs in the most beautiful colors.”
She is survived by her husband Mikael Bolyos and their two children Josefin and Oscar. Today, let’s keep her spirit alive by listening to Roxette’s songs. The ballads will remind you of love and the pop songs will make you smile as you remember her beautiful voice.
