No Woman No Cry

February 16, 2004
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.

March 1, 2004
Wife of the late Bob Marley, Rita Marley offers her long-awaited reminiscences of life with the reggae superstar. With the help of poet Hettie Jones, she writes candidly about various topics, e.g., Marley's notorious womanizing (she actually befriended many of her husband's lovers), an assault that nearly killed Bob and Rita, and his dying hopes and wishes. Above all, fans will find a simple story of a woman who married a simple man, watched him rise to fame, and bravely endured many tribulations at his side. An orphan from Jamaica's Trench Town, Rita was a backup singer who met Marley in a recording studio. Soon after, the two married and were together until Marley's death from cancer in 1981. Unfortunately, Rita doesn't delve much into Marley's music and the mythmaking of the media. Thus, her book will probably appeal to only the most ardent Marley fans-those who want to know everything. Timothy White's Catch a Fire is still the best place to start. For large libraries and comprehensive reggae collections. [A portion of this book's proceeds will go to the Bob Marley Foundation.-Ed.]-Bill Walker, Stockton- San Joaquin Cty. P.L., CA

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2004
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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)