Singer Marie Fredriksson of Swedish pop duo Roxette has died at the age of 61 after years of battling cancer and the lingering effects of its treatment.

Key points: Roxette duo singer Per Gessle paid tribute and said Fredriksson was a master of voice and amazing performer

Roxette duo singer Per Gessle paid tribute and said Fredriksson was a master of voice and amazing performer The duo achieved international success including the US number one hit It Must Have Been Love, which featured in the film Pretty Woman

The duo achieved international success including the US number one hit It Must Have Been Love, which featured in the film Pretty Woman The pair sold 80 million records worldwide and embarked on world tours

Fredriksson died on Monday morning (local time) after a 17-year battle with a brain tumour.

Her management agency Dimberg Jernberg said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that we have to announce that one of our biggest and most beloved artists is gone."

"Marie leaves us a grand musical legacy. Her amazing voice — both strong and sensitive — and her magical live performances will be remembered by all of us who were lucky enough to witness them.

"But we also remember a wonderful person with a huge appetite for life, and woman with a very big heart who cared for everybody she met."

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Fredriksson formed Roxette with Per Gessle in 1986. The two released their first album the same year and their breakthrough album Look Sharp two years later.

Roxette produced several international hits including four US number ones with It Must Have Been Love, from the film Pretty Woman, The Look, Listen to Your Heart and Joyride.

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On his Facebook profile, Gessle wrote: "You were an outstanding musician, a master of the voice, an amazing performer."

"I'm proud, honoured and happy to have been able to share so much of your time, talent, warmth, generosity and your sense of humour," he wrote, adding "Things will never be the same."

"You painted my black and white songs in the most beautiful colours."

Fredriksson was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2002.

She underwent aggressive treatment that took its toll but ultimately was successful, her management agency said.

However, she was left blind in one eye, with limited hearing and mobility, and was unable to read or write.

She was also unable to speak for a considerable period of time after her treatment, making a gradual return to the stage in 2009.

Roxette released several new albums and toured across the world until 2016, when Fredriksson was advised by her doctors to focus on her health and stop touring.

Fredriksson was born in southern Sweden on May 30, 1958, and had her artistic breakthrough in 1984 in Sweden.

Roxette sold 80 million records worldwide and embarked on world tours.

Per Gessle said things will never be the same and he felt honour and happy about their shared time. ( REUTERS: Michael Sohn/Pool )

They were Sweden's best-known band since ABBA in the 1970s and 1980s, and in 2003, Sweden's Carl Gustaf XVI awarded the duo a royal award.

Fredriksson made her first public appearance after her brain tumour operation to receive the honour with Gessle.

She is survived by her husband, Mikael Bolyos, and their two children, Josefin and Oscar.

The family asked for respect in their grief and announced the funeral will take place in silence with only her closest family present.

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