Marie Fredriksson, half of the Swedish pop-rock duo Roxette, died Monday at 61. Her management team confirmed in a statement that Fredrikssonโ€™s death followed a 17-year battle with cancer.โ€œThank you, Marie, thanks for everything,โ€ bandmate Per Gessleย wrote in an emotional statement. โ€œYou 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.”.

Fredriksson and Gessle had established careers in Sweden before teaming up to form Roxette in 1986, a decision that would soon boost them to worldwide fame.They broke out with their second album, โ€œLook Sharp!,โ€ which came out in 1988, and the next yearย landed two No. 1 songs, โ€œThe Lookโ€ and โ€œListen to Your Heart,โ€ on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. โ€œIt Must Have Been Love,โ€ a 1990 single from the โ€œPretty Womanโ€ soundtrack, and โ€œJoyride,โ€ peaked at No. 1 as well.

In the statement issued after Fredrikssonโ€™s death, Gessle added that he was โ€œproud, honored and happy to have been able to share so much of [her] time, talent, warmth, generosity, and sense of humor.โ€