Roxette singer Marie Fredriksson has passed away

Publish Date
Wednesday, 11 December 2019, 7:23AM

Marie Fredriksson, the voice behind the iconic Swedish duo Roxette, has died at the age of 61.

The '80s singer is best known for her power ballads with bandmate Per Gessle, such as 'It Must Have Been Love', 'Listen to Your Heart', 'The Look', 'Joyride' and 'Dangerous'.

According to a statement from Fredriksson's manager, the pop star reportedly passed away on Tuesday "following a 17-year long battle with cancer."

The singer is survived by husband, muisc producer, Mikael Bolyos, and their two children, daughter Ines Josefin and son Oscar.

The family said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that we have to announce that one of our biggest and most beloved artists is gone".

Gessle also paid tribute to his musical partner, saying: "things will never be the same".

"Time goes by so quickly. It's not that long ago we spent days and nights in my tiny apartment listening to music we loved, sharing impossible dreams," he said.

"And what a dream we eventually got to share!

"Thank you Marie, thank you for EVERYTHING.

"You were a truly unique musician, a singer on a level we will hardly ever experience again. "You painted my black and white songs with the most beautiful colours."

He also said: "You were a wonderful friend for over forty years.

"I am proud, honoured and happy to have shared so much of your time, your talent, your warmth, generosity and humour.

"All my love goes to you and your family. Things will never be the same."

"Marie leaves us a grand musical legacy. Her amazing voice -- both strong and sensitive -- and her magical live performances will be remembered by all of us who was lucky enough to witness them," Dimberg Jernberg Management said in a statement.

"But we also remember a wonderful person with a huge appetite for life, and woman with a very big heart who cared for everybody she met."

Fredriksson was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2002 after she had a seizure while jogging with her husband, and given a 25 per cent chance of survival.

She survived, but had health problems as a result of the radiation treatment she had received.

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