No Woman No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley (Paperback)

by Rita Marley (Author) "I WAS AN AMBITIOUS girl child..." (more)
Key Phrases: Trench Town, Hope Road, Bob Marley (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Fans of reggae legend Bob Marley will welcome this no-nonsense biography from his wife, Rita, who was also his band member, business partner, musical collaborator and the only person to have witnessed firsthand his development from local Jamaican singer to international superstar. Aided by poet and memoirist Jones (How I Became Hettie Jones), Rita presents the powerful details of her early life story: her youth in the Trench Town ghetto of Kingston, Jamaica, living with "thugs, thieves, killers, prostitutes, gamblers"; her encounters with the early "Wailing Wailers"; and how her relationship with Bob cemented as they spent days recording in Dodd's Studio One. Throughout, this memoir emphasizes Rita's own substantial musicianship, first as part of Bob Marley's backing vocalists, the I-Threes, and later her own career after his death "carrying on a legacy that means so much to the world." Those subjects provide a positive balance to unpleasant experiences such as dealing with Bob Marley's various mistresses during his life and defending herself from accusations after his death that she was financially abusing his estate. This is far from a definitive look at Bob Marley, and for a comprehensive, critical look at the singer it would be hard to compete with Timothy White's definitive Catch a Fire. But this book makes an important contribution to our understanding of Marley and Jamaican music in general.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Widow of Bob and mother of Ziggy, Rita Marley would merit mention in reggae history even had she not recorded, too. Here she tells of growing up poor in Jamaica, loving the ambitious Marley, and how her life changed when he became pop music's first Third World superstar, only to die at 36. Alfarita Constantia Anderson met Bob Marley by waiting for him on the way from Jamaica's legendary Studio One. He introduced her to Rastafarianism, and when she saw the stigmata on Haile Selassie's hand during the Ethiopian emperor's visit to Jamaica, she "went home screaming and cheering." Many might call her relationship with Marley troubled, what with its physical confrontations early on and outside affairs and offspring later, but Rita says she decided to "be strong, stand up and fight," despite his frequent and open infidelity. Eventually, "as long as [she] was respected [and] given whatever [she] needed financially," she "let him be." Now business manager of Marley's legacy, Rita is a strong woman whose angle on him is fresh and authoritative. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (January 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786887559
• ISBN-13: 978-0786887552
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,731 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courage and Hope, April 22, 2004

By	Shelia M Goss (Entertainment Writer & Author of Young Adult Books & Women's Fiction) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Woman No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley (Hardcover)

NO WOMAN, NO CRY: MY LIFE WITH BOB MARLEY by Rita Marley with Hettie Jones is an intriguing and engaging account of the life of Reggae singer, Rita Marley.

It's a story of a woman who in spite of her circumstances was able to overcome many obstacles.

Rita came from humble beginnings. Growing up in Trench Town, a rough part of Kingston, Jamaica, didn't offer her many choices. When she got pregnant at an early age, she was able to continue her education due to the help of her Aunty.

Rita had a natural talent for singing and attempted a singing career. It was during her early years that she met Bob Marley. They started off as friends, but eventually their love for music drew them together and before long they were married.

Subsequently, Rita put her music career on hold to raise her and Bob's children. Meanwhile, Bob's career continued to flourish. No matter what happened between them, Rita remained committed to Bob. She was the glue that kept her family together.

With Bob's success came much turmoil with their relationship-namely Bob's infidelities and children outside of his marriage. Strange as it seems, Rita and Bob remained married.

Rita re-entered the music business as a member of Bob's backup group, The Wailers, when the original members quit. Her and Bob were together once again as a musical team and traveled the world until he became ill. When Bob was diagnosed with cancer, it was Rita who stood by his side and was his support system. She truly loved him to the very end.

Rita Marley's generous spirit is evident throughout the book. The book is about choices and the inner drive to survive in spite of what life dishes out. Most importantly, Rita teaches us to have faith and never lose hope.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bob Marley Was Something Else, September 13, 2004

By	Boop "caramelchocolate" (Aiken, South Carolina United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Woman No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed Rita Marley's book about her husband Bob. It was interesting to hear her side of view.

I did not know that Bob Marley sired so many children from other woman and his excuse to his wife was, "I know that I can not run your body down with having a baby every year." That was his excuse for having children with other women. I have to pat Rita on the back by helping Bob take care of these children, because many women including me would have not done that whether the man had money or not. I must really say she has a good heart and because of that and so many other things she continues to be blessed.

I found myself sad to read that Bob's life could have been saved if he had of amputated his toe, years before the cancer claimed his body, but he was hard-headed and him and his family had to pay the price.

I feel that Bob Marley is a musical genius that still does not receive all of his props and I commend Rita and his family for continuing his legacy.

Later....

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Talking About a STRONG WOMAN................, May 2, 2005

By	Venessia Young "Mississippi Chocolate Chick" (Ridgeland, MS United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: No Woman No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley (Hardcover)

This book takes us on a journey from Rita's humble begginings in Trench Town, a ghetto in Jamaica, to the things that happens when your husband turns into a star. Rita was a woman with patience, virtue, and was very true to her Rasta religion. Some of the things she dealt with made me feel as if she should have left Bob, but I know that love is blind and you can't walk in someone else's shoes. Bob had many flings and girlfriends, all of which she knew about and some she even met!!! What made me envy her was that she never forgot about the children and she even helped raise some of the outside children. She never crumbled in front of the children or showed them her sadness. Bob and Rita had a marriage that truly was for the better or worse, and now she is a living testiment to all people in relationships.