Booking Rita Marley

Rita Marley Biography

Rita Marley was born Alpharita Constantia Anderson in 1946 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. Long before she rose to fame as the widow of beloved performer Bob Marley, Rita Marley grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, raised by her aunt. A meeting with Peter Tosh in the 1960’s led to her introduction to Bob Marley, who became Rita’s mentor and lover, eventually marrying her in 1966.

Like Bob Marley, Rita became involved in the Rastafari Movement in the mid 1960’s, although she to this day is still a member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Both the Rastafarian lifestyle and Bob’s music engulfed her life, and it wasn’t until after Bob Marley’s death that Rita began to record her own music, releasing a number of albums in the 1980’s.

Around this time, Rita also established a number of foundations, including the Bob Marley Foundation, the Bob Marley Trust, and the Rita Marley Foundation. All foundations seek to improve the lives of children and families around the world, targeting hunger and poverty in developing countries.The Rita Marley Foundation also seeks to provide scholarships to young musicians wishing to attend Ghana’s Berklee College of Music.

Today, Rita Marley continues her philanthropic efforts but has also recently made a surprise return to music. Rita appears on Fergie’s song “Mary Jane Shoes” and on Khaled’s song “Raikoum.” In 2004, Rita Marley also published her biography, No Woman, No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley.