Alpharita Constantia Anderson, better known as Rita Marley was born July 25, 1946 in Santiago de Cuba to Leroy Anderson and Cynthia "Beda" Jarrett. Rita is the widow of legendary Reggae musician Bob Marley, and a member of the trio the I Threes, Bob Marley's back up singers.
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Biography
Rita's father was a carpenter. At age 5, Rita's mother abandoned the family, taking Rita's brother Donovan with her since he had a light complexion. Rita was raised by her Auntie Viola Anderson Britton.[1]
Rita's siblings include the aforementioned Donovan, Leroy Anderson (called Lepke), Wesley, Ranking Miss P, Diane and Jeanette/Janet. Lepke is the founder of Europe's first black music radio station Dread Broadcast Corporation (DBC) (Rebel Radio). Miss P was born in London whilst sisters Diane and Janet/Jeanette were born in Sweden. Diane and Janet/Jeanette are members of Dayenne, a very successful Swedish dance group. Rita grew up in the upper level of Trenchtown, Jamaica. Bob was from the lower level of Trenchtown. In the mid sixties Rita was singing with a trio named The Soulettes who were recording for Studio One, when she met Bob Marley. The Soulettes became the I Threes Rita married Bob on 10 February 1966, and then became a singer in his backing vocals group, the I Threes. She converted to the Rastafari movement after witnessing Haile Selassie on his visit to Kingston, Jamaica on 21 April 1966. After Marley's death, she recorded a few albums under her name with some success in the United Kingdom and took care of Marley's estate.
Children
Rita has five children, two from other relationships and three with Bob. Bob adopted Rita's two children as his own and they have the Marley name. Bob has 13 children total: the two of Rita's that he adopted, three born to Rita, and the remaining eight with separate women [2][3]. Rita's children are, in order of birth:
- Sharon, born November 23, 1964
- Cedella Marley born August 23, 1967
- David "Ziggy", born October 17, 1968
- Stephen, born April 20, 1972
- Stephanie, born 17 August 1974 (from a relationship with Ital, according to Bob's mother, Cedella Booker)
Recent/Current
In January, 2005, it was claimed that she wished that Bob Marley's body be reburied in Ethiopia, but she denied that there were any such plans. Rita currently lives in Konkonduru, near Aburi, Ghana. Rita appears in the song "Mary Jane Shoes" on Fergie's multi-platinum 2006 album The Dutchess.
Discography
- 1967 : Pied Piper (single, on Club Ska '67) - Mango
- 1980 : Rita Marley - Trident
- 1981 : Who Feels It Knows It - Shanachie Records
- 1988 : Harambe (Working Together for Freedom) - Shanachie Records
- 1988 : We Must Carry on - Shanachie Records
- 1990 : Beauty of God's - Shanachie Records
- 1990 : Good Girls Cult - Shanachie Records
- 1990 : One Draw - Shanachie Records
- 2003 : Sings Bob Marley...and Friends - Shanachie Records
- 2004 : Play Play - Universal Music
- 2005 : Sunshine After Rain
- 2006 : Gifted Fourteen Carnation
References
- ^ Rita Marley, Hettie Jones (2004). No Woman, No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley. Hyperion, ISBN 0-7868-6867-8
- ^ http://debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/dixon.html
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/dancehall/marley_famtree1.shtm
External links
- Rita Marley at the Internet Movie Database
- starpulse.com biography
- VH1 biography
- Official MySpace Page
Books
Rita Marley, Hettie Jones (2004). No Woman, No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley. Hyperion, ISBN 0-7868-6867-8
