Marie Fredriksson

Marie Fredriksson
Fredriksson smiling into a camera. There is a flame from a candle flickering above her left shoulder.
Fredriksson in 2014
Born
Gun-Marie Fredriksson

(1958-05-30)30 May 1958
Össjö, Scania, Sweden
Died9 December 2019(2019-12-09) (aged 61)
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active1978–2018
Spouse
(m. 1994)
Children2
Musical career
GenresPop rock
Instruments
Formerly of
  • Strul
  • MaMas Barn
  • Spännande Ostar
  • Roxette
  • Artister för Miljö
Websitemariefredriksson.se

Gun-Marie Fredriksson (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈɡɵnː maˈriː ˈfrêːdrɪkˌsɔn] ; 30 May 1958 – 9 December 2019) was a Swedish singer, songwriter, pianist, and lead vocalist of pop-rock duo Roxette, which she formed in 1986 with Per Gessle. The duo achieved international success in the late 1980s and early 1990s with their albums Look Sharp! (1988) and Joyride (1991), and had multiple hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four number ones.

Fredriksson had a successful career in her native country prior to forming Roxette. She was a member of punk group Strul, a band which created their own music festival in 1979. Strul's dissolution led to the creation of her next project, the short-lived MaMas Barn, after which she began releasing solo work. Her first album, Het vind, was issued in 1984, followed by Den sjunde vågen in 1986 and ... Efter stormen in 1987. Roxette's international breakthrough coincided with a period of inactivity for Fredriksson as a solo artist, punctuated only by the release of the non-album single "Sparvöga" in 1989. Subsequent solo albums included Den ständiga resan (1992) and I en tid som vår (1996).

In 2002, after fainting at home, Fredriksson was diagnosed with a brain tumour. During her rehabilitation, she continued to record music as a solo artist, resulting in The Change in 2004 and Min bäste vän in 2006, as well as the non-album single "Där du andas" in 2008—her first and only solo number one single in Sweden. She and Gessle later reunited to record more albums as Roxette, and the pair embarked on a worldwide concert tour. She also continued to record as a solo artist in her native Sweden, releasing Nu! in 2013. Fredriksson died on 9 December 2019 as a result of health issues stemming from her brain tumour.

  1. ^ Grace, C. (2021) What instruments can Marie Fredriksson play? Stason.org . (online) Available at: https://stason.org/TULARC/music-bands/roxette/6-4-What-instruments-can-Marie-Fredriksson-play-Roxette.html (Accessed: February 18th 2024).
  2. ^ bravojasiu. (2008) Roxette - Spending my time (live) - shows Marie playing piano and singing live. YouTube. (online) Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPi9ymkMYVg (Accessed: February 18th 2024).
  3. ^ Costa, M. (2006) ROXETTE - LIVE - IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOVE - SOLO - Marie plays piano and sings live. YouTube. (online) Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvKl1VHqMOU (Accessed: February 18th 2024).