Remembering Marie Fredriksson

• Marie Fredriksson, half of the popular ’80s/’90s Swedish pop duo Roxette, died Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the age 61 after a 17-year battle with cancer. The news was initially reported by Billboard. Roxette, which also featured guitarist and singer Per Gessle, was formed in 1986 and enjoyed huge radio success with a string of hits, including 1989’s No. 1 smash, “The Look,” as well as “Listen To Your Heart,” “Joyride” and the monster ballad “It Must Have Been Love,” which was prominently featured in the film Pretty Woman.

Gessle paid tribute to Fredriksson in an emotional statement that read, “Time goes by so quickly. It’s not that long ago we spent days and nights in my tiny apartment in Halmstad, listening to music we loved, sharing impossible dreams. And what a dream we eventually got to share! 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 colours. You were the most wonderful friend for over 40 years. I’m proud, honoured and happy to have been able to share so much of your time, talent, warmth, generosity and sense of humour. All my love goes out to you and your family. Things will never be the same.”

Here’s a treasured vintage photo, taken at the 1991 Gavin Convention in San Francisco — (l-r): Veteran programmer Tony Waitekus, Per Gessle, Marie Fredriksson, and RAMP‘s Kevin Carter, then GM of Hitmakers.

> Our friends at Benztown have created an audio tribute to Fredriksson, written and voiced by Bill Royal and produced by Tom Baker.