Marie Fredriksson is a real gem. She rose to prominence as the vocalist of the group Roxette. But this is not the only merit of a woman. Marie has fully realized herself as a pianist, composer, songwriter and artist.
Almost until the last days of her life, Fredriksson communicated with the public, although the doctors insisted that she leave the music. The idol of millions died at the age of 61. The cause of death was cancer.
Childhood and youth of Marie Fredriksson
Gun-Marie Fredriksson (full celebrity name) was born in 1958. In addition to the girl, the parents raised five more children. Marie's childhood passed in the small village of Ostré Ljungby (Sweden).
Mary's family was very poor. To feed the children, mom and dad had to work hard. They were often not at home. The girl was left to herself. Since childhood, she dreamed of performing on stage. Fredriksson sang in front of a mirror and later performed for her siblings.
Every day, Marie fell in love with music even more. She quickly learned to play several musical instruments at once.
Rock classics sounded in the Fredriksson house. Marie, as if spellbound, listened to the compositions of famous gurus and dreamed that someday she would take her niche in the music industry. In her youth, the girl took an active part in the productions of the student theater. But soon she decided for sure that she wanted to make music, and therefore left the theatrical field.
She played the guitar beautifully. This helped to gather the first audience of fans. Marie's debut performances took place at the venues of the clubs of the small provincial town of Halmstad. Music lovers fell in love with the soulful soprano of the young singer. Soon fortune smiled upon her. Influential producers drew attention to her, who offered to help in the "promotion".
Parents, fearing for the fate of their daughter, dissuaded her from the idea of linking her life with music and the stage. They were afraid that their daughter might start using drugs. Her older sisters provided tremendous support during this period of time. The girls convinced their parents that this was Marie's only chance to realize her creative potential.
The creative path of Marie Fredriksson
Marie began her career as a backing vocalist. Of course, secretly she wanted to perform as a solo singer. Her dream came true in 1984. At this time, she expanded her solo discography with the album Het Vind. The composition Ännu Doftar Kärlek, which was included in the presented disc, "blew up" the country's music charts.
But Marie found real success in 1986. Then she joined forces with the talented Per Gessle. The guys created the cult rock band Roxette, which is now known throughout the world.
It is noteworthy that the duo managed to conquer not only music lovers from Sweden, but also far beyond the borders of their native country. In particular, the work of musicians was adored by American "fans". The Look hit topped the charts in America in the late 1980s.
A few years later, It Must Have Been Love repeated the success of The Look. The track has long held a leading position in the US chart. The video clip for the presented composition in 1990 included footage from the movie Pretty Woman.
Fredriksson recorded not only albums for the band. She continued to realize herself as a solo artist. Marie has 10 solo LPs on her account.
Details of the artist's personal life
The personal life of the singer has developed well. There was one man firmly in her heart - the musician Mikael Boiosh. Marie has repeatedly said that this is the love of her life. In one of her interviews, the woman said that she fell in love with the musician at first sight. Mikael proposed to Marie a day after they met. The couple got married in 1994.
Only the closest people were present at the wedding ceremony. Surprisingly, Marie didn't even invite her Roxette bandmate Per Gessle. This led journalists to say that there was a serious discord between the stars.
In this union, two beautiful children were born - a daughter and a son. The son, by the way, also followed in the footsteps of the famous mother. Marie spoke about her feelings for her husband in her autobiographical book Love of Life.
In the book, the woman shared her thoughts on the disappointing diagnosis she received in 2002. The woman had been battling brain cancer for 17 years. In Love for Life, Marie candidly told readers about the agony she experienced during treatment.
It was one of the most difficult periods in the life of the Swedish singer. She could hardly speak, did not appear on stage for some time. She revealed her unspent creative potential in drawing.
In 2009, fans calmed down a bit. Marie took the stage again with her friend and colleague Per Gessle. The duet pleased the "fans" with a large-scale tour. The singer frankly felt bad. She sang on stage, sitting on a chair.
The last years of the life and death of Marie Fredriksson
In 2016, the doctors who treated the celebrity insisted that she stop working on stage. The Roxette team ceased to exist.
Marie decided to listen to the recommendations of doctors. She didn't go on stage again. However, there were no prohibitions regarding work in a home recording studio, so the singer continued to record compositions.
Marie Fredriksson passed away on December 9, 2019. She was only 61 years old. Shortly before her death, the singer stopped walking and seeing. She managed to say that parting with her body took place in a close circle of relatives.
In 2020, a commemorative concert En kväll för Marie Fredriksson took place at the Gothenburg Bolshoi Theater in honor of the famous singer. World-class stars honored the memory of Marie, who made an undeniable contribution to the development of Swedish art.
