29-613: Alfarita Constantia " Rita " Marley OJ OD ( née Anderson ; born 25 July 1946) is a Cuban born Jamaican singer-songwriter and entrepreneur. She is the widow of reggae legend Bob Marley . Along with Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt , Rita was a member of the reggae vocal group the I Threes , the backing vocalists for Bob Marley and the Wailers . Rita Marley was born in Santiago de Cuba , to Leroy Anderson and Cynthia "Beda" Jarrett. Her parents moved to Kingston, Jamaica , when she
58-477: A blues -influenced positive celebration of skanking , reggae and sex , "Lively Up Yourself". The original and still unreleased demo of the Island version of "Lively Up Yourself" was recorded in 1973. " No Woman, No Cry ", the second track, is probably the best known recording on the album. It is a nostalgic remembrance of growing up in the impoverished streets of Trenchtown , the ghetto of Kingston, Jamaica , and
87-591: A stroke while on a visit to Miami to attend a special event and has kept a low public profile since. She made her first public appearance since then at an award ceremony in Kingston on March 9, 2019, along with her fellow I Three members Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt to accept the Iconic Award (For a Duo/Group), given by the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association. In 2019, Marley was honoured by
116-436: A Beatin' in 1966–1968. As Bunny was jailed in 1968 for cannabis possession, Rita joined the Wailers, replacing Bunny for a few months. It is at that time that The Wailers met American singer Johnny Nash , who produced a series of Wailers rocksteady recordings. In April 1968 Nash's manager Danny Sims signed Tosh, Rita Marley and her husband, Bob Marley to exclusive publishing, management, and production contracts in exchange for
145-469: A child if not for the aid of Tartar. The original version of the song was in gospel style, featuring Peter Tosh and some unknown female backing vocals and was cut for Island in 1973. "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)" is a warning against allowing a nation's poor to go hungry, with the prophetic warning "a hungry mob is an angry mob ", while "Talkin' Blues" and "Revolution" go deeper into controversial political commentary. "Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)"
174-514: A few dollars and an opportunity to record in Kingston for the New York-based JAD label owned by Johnny Nash, musician Arthur Jenkins and Sims. Musicians on this 1968 Wailers session feature Tosh and the Marleys. Rita Marley sang vocals on a dozen fine rocksteady and soul tracks, most of which were not issued at the time. New recordings of Bend Down Low and Mellow Mood got issued as a single in
203-423: A few songs as a member of The Wailers during this period, with Rita Marley providing harmonies. Upon Bob's return at the end of the summer of 1966, Bunny Wailer , Peter Tosh and Bob created their independent label Wail 'n' Soul'm, which released several records by Bob Marley and the Wailers, as well as Peter Tosh and the Wailers 45RPM single records including Bend Down Low , Hypocrites and Tosh's Dem Haffi Get
232-485: A means of avoiding the contractual restrictions and as a way to "provide lasting help to family and close friends". Marley's former manager Danny Sims sued to obtain royalty and ownership rights to the songs, claiming that Marley had actually written the songs but had assigned the credit to Ford to avoid meeting commitments made in prior contracts. A 1987 court decision sided with the Marley estate, which assumed full control of
261-567: A pop duet with Bob, "Milk Shake and Potato Chips", were finally released in 2003 on the Rebel JAD/55 long box set. Following the birth of their second child, Ziggy Marley in 1968, Bob returned to Delaware in 1969 to work on the night shift in a Chrysler factory. Bunny had returned to the Wailers at the end of 1968 and Rita did not record with Bob until 1974, when her husband formed the I Three harmony vocal group featuring Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt to replace Peter and Bunny, who had left
290-651: A re-mastered edition of Natty Dread was released by Universal Records containing a bonus track. Released in the US in May 1975, the album reached the top half of the Billboard 200 at No. 92. When it was released in the UK in October 1975, it did even better, reaching No. 43. In 2003, the album was ranked No. 181 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time , maintaining
319-441: Is a reflection on the potential impact of reggae music on Jamaican society. The song was written after Marley had been stopped by a night-time police carcheck. The influence of Marley's increasing devotion to Rastafari can be heard in religious-themed songs like "So Jah S'eh", "Natty Dread" and "Lively Up Yourself", while Marley's reputation as a romantic is confirmed with smooth, seductive songs like "Bend Down Low". The title track of
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#1732909321261348-737: The Bob Marley Museum . She is the founder and chairwoman of the Robert Marley Foundation, Bob Marley Trust, and the Bob Marley Group of Companies. In 2000, Rita created the Rita Marley Foundation, a non-governmental, not-for-profit, non-partisan organization that works to alleviate poverty and hunger in developing countries. It targets elderly and youth. It has given out a number of scholarships to music students in Ghana. It hosts
377-774: The Jamaican Government with its fourth-highest national honour, Order of Jamaica (OJ). In October 2022, Rita was awarded the Jamaican Consulate General's Lifetime Achievement Award and was also honored by the South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center during Jamaica's National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) On 22 March 2024, she was honoured by the International Reggae And World Music Awards (IRAWMA) for her extensive philanthropic work throughout her life. She established
406-562: The Marley name. Rita's children are, in order of birth: Order of Jamaica The Order of Jamaica is the fifth of the six orders in the Jamaican honours system . The Order was established in 1969, and it is considered the equivalent of a knighthood in the British honours system . Membership in the Order can be conferred upon any Jamaican citizen of outstanding distinction. Honorary membership in
435-403: The Order can be conferred upon any distinguished citizen of a country other than Jamaica. Members and Honorary Members are entitled to: The motto of the Order is "For a covenant of the people". Natty Dread Natty Dread is the seventh album by Bob Marley and the Wailers , released in 1974. Previously Marley had recorded with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer as the Wailers, and this
464-804: The Rita Marley Foundation, which focuses on alleviating poverty and hunger and providing education in Ghana and Jamaica. On 1 July 2024 on International Reggae Day, Rita received the Winnie Mandela Humanitarian Award at the JulyOne celebrations hosted by the City of Miramar in Florida and Consul General Oliver Mair. For her invaluable service to humanity through her music and philanthropic works in communities from Jamaica to Africa. Rita has six children, three with Bob and three from other relationships. Bob adopted Rita's two other children as his own and they have
493-647: The U.S. under the name "Bob, Rita and Peter". The original 1968 sessions including all of the original musicians — and without the horns — eventually surfaced on the Freedom Time album issued in 2003 by JAD's partner in France (55 Records) after producer Bruno Blum finally mixed them in Paris from the original four-track tapes. One song, "Play Play Play", features Rita Marley on lead vocals with harmonies sung by Peter and Bob Marley. Another Rita Marley-sung tune, "Lonely Girl", and
522-646: The Wailers), as well as a duet by Marley and Bunny Wailer ("Bless You"), which was issued years later on the Lovers and Friends album. After recording for Studio One and being coached by Bob Marley , Rita married Bob around February 1966, just before he moved to Wilmington, Delaware , for a few months to make a living working at the Dupont Hotel there. Bob was replaced by her cousin Constantine "Vision" Walker , who recorded
551-501: The album takes its title from an idealised personification of the Rastafari movement , Natty Dread. Although the album's liner notes list multiple songwriters, including family friends and band members, all songs were written by Marley. Marley was involved in a contractual dispute with his former publishing company, Cayman Music. Vincent Ford , a childhood friend from Jamaica, was given writing credit for " No Woman, No Cry ", as well as
580-697: The annual Africa Unite concerts which strives to spread global awareness about issues that affect Africa and to develop lasting solutions. She adopted 35 children in Ethiopia and has assisted over 200 children in Konkonuru Methodist School in Ghana . In 1996, Rita Marley was conferred the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government for her contributions to the development of Jamaican music and culture. In 2010, Rita
609-462: The band in 1973. Together with the I Three, Bob Marley & the Wailers recorded the album Natty Dread in 1974, rising to international stardom with the track "No Woman No Cry". It was followed by the 1976 album Rastaman Vibration featuring the track "Roots, Rock, Reggae". On 3 December 1976 two days before the Smile Jamaica Concert , a large free concert organized by Bob Marley with
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#1732909321261638-528: The happiness brought by the company of friends. The song has been performed by artists as diverse as Boney M. (sung by Liz Mitchell ), The Fugees , Pearl Jam , Jimmy Buffett , Rancid and Gilberto Gil . Songwriting credit for "No Woman, No Cry" went to V. Ford . Vincent Ford , better known as "Tartar" to his friends and neighbors, had been a kind friend of Marley as a child in Trenchtown . Marley claimed he would have starved to death on several occasions as
667-442: The island's first pressing plant, and the company subsequently moved from 56 Hope Road to 220 Marcus Garvey Drive, where it continues to operate. Tuff Gong studio is one of the largest Caribbean studios and features the second-largest live recording space on the island with artists, musicians, producers and tourists traveling from around the world to visit the facility. In 1986, Rita Marley decided to convert Bob Marley's home into
696-496: The songs "Crazy Baldheads" (with Marley's wife Rita ), "Positive Vibration" and "Roots Rock Reggae" from the 1976 album Rastaman Vibration , along with "Inna De Red" and "Jah Bless" with Marley's son, Stephen . Marley had not wanted his new songs to be associated with Cayman and it had been speculated, including in his obituary in The Independent , that he had put them in the names of his close friends and family members as
725-456: The songs. Natty Dread was released 25 October 1974 by Island and Tuff Gong . In 1975, this album was mentioned in a few audio magazines as being ready to be released on Quadraphonic 8-track tape . This never happened. However, the Quadraphonic mixes of "Lively Up Yourself" and "No Woman No Cry" have been bootlegged from the master tapes and are available on the internet. In 2001,
754-491: The support of Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley , Rita, Bob, and manager Don Taylor were wounded in an assault on the Marley home by gunmen affiliated with Manley's enemies. Rita survived a shot to the head and Taylor sustained serious injuries from being shot in the leg. Bob had a bullet skid his chest and wound his arm, but nevertheless played this major show in Kingston with Rita by his side. In 1981, Rita Marley purchased Ken Khouri 's Federal Records recording studio,
783-615: Was conferred with the prestigious Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Award. On 3 August 2013, she was made an honorary citizen of Ghana by the Ghanaian government after living there for many years. In November 2015 Marley was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by the University of the West Indies . In 2017 she received her second honorary Doctorate degree by University of Fort Hare , South Africa . In September 2016, Marley suffered
812-439: Was his first record without them. Natty Dread was most popularly received in the UK, where it peaked at No. 43 and sold in excess of 100,000 copies, making it a gold album. Over time it gained popularity in other parts of the world, and in 2003 it was ranked No. 181 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time . Natty Dread is a spiritually charged political and social statement. It opens with
841-769: Was three months old. In her memoir, No Woman No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley , Rita describes how she was raised by her Aunt Viola after her parents separated. She was raised in Trenchtown in Kingston, Jamaica . Rita was a founding member of the Soulettes with her cousin Constantine Walker, and Marlene Gifford. The Soulettes released recordings including rocksteady tunes such as "Time for Everything", " Turn! Turn! Turn! " (released in 1966, written by folk singer Pete Seeger ) and "A Deh Pon Dem". "Friends and Lovers", "One More Chance" and "That Ain't Right" (featuring harmony vocals by
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