RIP: Roxette Lead Singer Marie Fredriksson Dies at 61 After 17 Year Battle with Cancer

Marie Fredriksson, the lead singer of 80’s and 90’s Swedish pop/rock band Roxette, has died at 61 years of age after a 17 year battle with cancer. Fredriksson was originally diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2002, but was able to fight the tumor for some time. In 2009 she was able to resume touring with Roxette and even recorded more music during that time, but in 2016 doctors advised Fredriksson to stop touring and focus on her health. She passed away 3 years later, on December 9th, 2019.

Fredriksson began her music career alone, but eventually teamed up with Per Gessle to form Roxette. During her time with Roxette, the band found national success in their home country of Sweden with the release of their debut album Pearls of Passion in 1986, and international success upon the release of their single “The Look” in 1989. That single would go on to hit number 1 on Billboard’s Top 100 Chart, along with “Listen To Your Heart”, “It Must Have Been Love,” and “Joyride”. A number of other songs by Roxette would go on to dominate radio stations worldwide throughout much of the 80’s and 90’s.

Check out the video of Roxanne’s hit, “Listen To Your Heart,” below:

Drew Feinerman: I have just completed my senior at the University of Michigan majoring in international studies with an emphasis in political economics and development, with a minor in Chinese language and culture, and I have recently been accepted into the Berklee School of Music's masters of music business program. Although my academic interests include economics, political science, and history, I consider music to be my one true passion. Music is, and has always been, a driving force for the way I think and act every day of my life. I have been playing the tenor saxophone since the age of ten, and playing an instrument at a high level has allowed me to only further my understanding and appreciation for music. While I grew up listening to predominantly classic rock, I soon found myself gravitating toward jazz, hip-hop, funk, and other genres, as my learned to both play and analyze music as a listener. As a writer, I am able to apply my skills both as a musician and a listener, and look forward to the opportunity to being able to express my thoughts on various stories in the music industry.
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