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Per Gessle is a highly accomplished Swedish pop singer-songwriter and musician, boasting a substantial net worth of $150 million. He is best recognized for being one half of the iconic duo Roxette, alongside Marie Fredriksson. Roxette achieved immense success, selling tens of millions of albums and releasing 10 studio albums before Fredriksson’s passing in 2019. Some of their most notable works include “Look Sharp!” (1988), “Joyride” (1991), “Tourism” (1992), “Crash! Boom! Bang!” (1994), and “Room Service” (2001). Several of Roxette’s albums received Platinum or higher certifications in multiple countries, all of them reaching the top 10 on the charts in Sweden. The duo’s chart-topping singles, including “It Must Have Been Love,” “Listen to Your Heart,” “The Look,” “Dangerous,” and “Joyride,” are celebrated classics.
Per Gessle’s contributions extend beyond his collaboration with Roxette. He released several solo albums, including “Scener” (1985), “Mazarin” (2003), “Son of a Plumber” (2005), and “En händig man” (2007). Additionally, Gessle was a pivotal figure in the pop group Gyllene Tider, contributing to the albums “Gyllene Tider” (1980), “Moderna Tider” (1981), “Puls” (1982), “The Heartland Café” (1984), “Finn 5 fel!” (2004), “Dags att tänka på refrängen” (2013), “Samma skrot och korn” (2019), and “Hux Flux” (2023).
Born on January 12, 1959, in Halmstad, Sweden, Per Håkan Gessle grew up in a family alongside older sister Gunilla and older brother Bengt. His parents, Elisabeth and Kurt Gessle, played significant roles in his life, with Kurt working as a plumber. Tragically, Kurt passed away in 1978, followed by Elisabeth in 2013, Bengt in 2014, and Gunilla in 2016.
Per’s remarkable musical journey began in 1976 when he formed the duo Grape Rock with Mats Persson. This partnership later evolved into the widely successful band Gyllene Tider after the addition of Anders Herrlin, Micke Syd Andersson, and Göran Fritzon. The band’s self-titled debut album in 1980 marked the onset of their remarkable success in the Swedish music scene. Gyllene Tider released a total of eight studio albums, with six of them reaching the pinnacle of Sweden’s Sverigetopplistan chart.
Gessle’s solo career began with the release of his eponymous debut album in 1983, followed by “Scener” (1985). In 1986, he joined forces with Marie Fredriksson to form the iconic duo Roxette, a collaboration that would leave an indelible mark on the global music landscape.
The duo’s debut album “Pearls of Passion” (1986) and the subsequent release “Look Sharp!” (1988) catapulted Roxette to international stardom, achieving Platinum status in numerous countries. The album “Look Sharp!” featured hits like “Dressed for Success,” “Listen to Your Heart,” “The Look,” and “Dangerous.” Roxette’s legacy continues to be celebrated by music enthusiasts worldwide.