Music & Arts

Roxette Singer Marie Fredriksson Passes Away

Marie Fredriksson, the singer who joined with Per Gessle to join the Swedish pop duo Roxette in 1986, has passed away at the age of 61 after a 17-year battle with cancer.

Roxette became a smash hit in the late 1980s and early 1990s with songs like “The Look,” “It Must Have Been Love,” “Listen to Your Heart” and “Joyride.” All four songs reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts, with “It Must Have Been Love” – which was used in the movie “Pretty Woman” – being the duo’s only song to stay No. 1 for two weeks, spending 25 weeks overall on the charts.

In a statement, Gessle said: “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]. You were the most wonderful friend for over 40 years.”

CNN and USA Today have more details.