Marie Fredriksson, Swedish singer-songwriter and pianist
Gun-Marie Fredriksson (Swedish pronunciation: [ɡʉːn maˈriː ˈfrêːdrɪkˌsɔn] (listen); 30 May 1958 – 9 December 2019) was a Swedish singer, songwriter, pianist and painter, who was best known internationally as the 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 2002 brain tumour diagnosis.
1958May, 30
Marie Fredriksson
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Events on 1958
- 13May
Richard Nixon
During a visit to Caracas, Venezuela, Vice President Richard Nixon's car is attacked by anti-American demonstrators. - 30May
Arlington National Cemetery
Memorial Day: The remains of two unidentified American servicemen, killed in action during World War II and the Korean War respectively, are buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. - 16Jun
Hungarian Revolution of 1956
Imre Nagy, Pál Maléter and other leaders of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising are executed. - 18Aug
Lolita
Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel Lolita is published in the United States. - 28Nov
French colonial empire
Chad, the Republic of the Congo, and Gabon become autonomous republics within the French Community.