| Celebrated Name: | Rita Marley |
| Real Name/Full Name: | Alpharetta Constantia Rita Marley |
| Gender: | Female |
| Age: | 75 years old |
| Birth Date: | 25th July 1946 |
| Birth Place: | Santiago de Cuba, Cuba |
| Nationality: | Jamaican |
| Height: | 1.72m |
| Weight: | 74kgs |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Husband/Spouse (Name): | Bob Marley (m. 1966, Died,1981) |
| Children/Kids (Son and Daughter): | No/Yes ( Sharon Marley, Cedella Marley, David Nesta Marley, Stephen Marley, Stephanie Marley, and Serita Stewart) |
| Dating/Boyfriend (Name): | N/A/Yes (name) |
| Is Rita Marley Lesbian? | No |
| Profession: | Musician |
| Salary: | No |
| Net Worth in 2024: | $55 million |
| Last Updated: | December 2024 |
Rita Marley is a Jamaican musician and the widow of the Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley. She was a member of the I Three vocal group, which was formed by her late husband in 1974. Together with Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths, she formed the backing vocalist team for her husband and the Wailers band. After the death of Bob Marley, she pursued her solo career in music, where she recorded several albums.
Maybe you know about Rita Marley very well, but do you know how old and tall is she and what is her net worth in 2024? If you do not know, we have prepared this article about details of Rita Marley’s short biography-wiki, career, professional life, personal life, today’s net worth, age, height, weight, and more facts. Well, if you’re ready, let’s start.
Early Life & Biography
Rita Marley was born Apharita Constantia Anderson on 25th July 1946 in Santiago de Cuba in Cuba to her parents Leroy Anderson and Cynthia Jarett. Her parents later moved to Kinston, Jamaica, where she was raised. Rita was vocally talented but didn’t have a breakthrough in music until she joined Bo Marley and Peter Tosh in their band The Soulettes.
The group consisted of Rita, Marlene Gifford, and her cousin Constantine Walker. Bob Marley became their mentor and the group’s manager and worked closely with Rita, which resulted in both fallings in love. Soulettes band released several hit songs among them That Ain’t Right, One More Chance, A Deh Pon Dem and a duet by Bunny Livingston and Rita called Bless you
Personal Life
Rita and Bob Marley got married in February 1966 just before Bob Marley relocated to Delaware in the U.S, where he had got a job in Dupont Hotel. Bob’s stay in the US was short, and he returned to Jamaica later that year to continue with his music career. By the time she married Bob Marley, she had a daughter, Sharon Marley, who was born in 1964.
Her second-born, Cedella Marley, who is her first child with Bob Marley, was born on 23rd August 1967. While her third born, David Nesta Marley, was born on 17th October 1968. Stephen Marley, who is her fourth born and last child with Bob Marley, was born on 20th April 1972. Rita had two more children, Namely Stephanie Marley and her lastborn Serita Stewart, born on 11th August 1975. Though her last two children were born when she was married to Bob Marley, they are believed to be fathered by different men.
Age, Height, and Weight
Being born on 25th July 1946, Rita Marley is 75 years old as of today’s date 26th December 2024. Her height is 1.72m tall, and her weight is 74 kg.
Career
Rita Joined the Bob Marley and his band in the mid-1960s and formed a team of backup vocalists with her cousin Constantine and Marlene Gifford. She later replaced Bunny Livingston in The Wailers band for several months after he was jailed for being in possession of banned substances, cannabis. During her time with the Wailers, she helped the band release singe records like Bend Down Low, Dem Haffi Get-a Beatin’, and Hypocrites.
In 1974, Bob formed the I Three-band, which recorded the Natty dread album 1974 in collaboration with The Wailers band. In 1976, they released another hit album, Rastaman Vibration, which also rose to international stardom. After the death of her husband, Rita recorded several albums that saw relative success, mainly in the UK. In 1986, she converted their matrimonial home in Kingston to Bob Marley Museum.
Awards & Achievements
Most of her best years in music, she worked as a backup vocalist to Bob Marley’s band and only ventured to a solo career in music after her husband’s death. This might be the reason Rita hasn’t received many awards as her success in music would suggest. In 1996, the Jamaican government recognized her awarding her Order of Distinction Honour.
This was followed by Marcus Garvey Lifetime Award, which she received in 2010. Ghana also honored her with honorary citizenship on 3rd August 2013 while the University of West Indies honored her with Doctor of Letters degree in November 2015
Net Worth & Salary of Rita Marley in 2024
Rita Marley started her career in music when she was a teenager singing as a backup vocalist with her husband’s bands. Later she ventured into solo music career recording big hits, which made her fortune. Though she has earned a lot with her music career, Bob Marley’s name is what has earned a fortune, which to this day, still earns her a lot. As of December 2024, Her estimated net worth is currently $55 million.
Even after Bob Marley cheated on her and even started living with the Jamaican model Cindy Breakspeare, Rita stayed put and didn’t leave her marriage. In her biography, she claimed to have been raped by Bob Marley after refusing to have sex with him. This was after she learned of his infidelity behavior. Even in death, she respects her husband and even wanted to rebury her husband in Ethiopia, which she claimed to be Bob’s spiritual resting place.