Joseph “Jo Mersa” Marley, son of musician Stephen Marley and grandson of reggae legend Bob Marley, has died. He is 31 years old.
The Jamaican American reggae singer was reportedly found unconscious in a car, as first tweeted by reporter Abka Fitz-Henley on Tuesday.
South Florida radio station WZPP posted on Instagram that it confirmed Jo Mersa’s death and said she died of an asthma attack, although it did not specify where it happened. It should be noted that the singer left behind a wife and children.
The Post has contacted Jo Mersa’s representative for comment.
His grandfather was a pioneer in the reggae movement and was famous for songs including “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” “Get Up, Get Up,” “This Love,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” “No Woman , don’t cry” and more.
Bob Marley died in 1981 of melanoma at the age of 36. He had 11 children by seven different women.
Stephen Marley also has a daughter, Mystic Marley, who is also a musician. Stephen’s siblings include musician Ziggy Marley and businessman Rohan Marley.
Jo Mersa spent her early years in Jamaica before moving to Florida for high school. He studied studio engineering at Miami Dade College, according to a 2014 Jamaica Observer story.
He released an EP, “Comfortable”, in 2014 which included the title track.
In an interview with the Jamaica Gleaner in 2021, off his second EP “Forever” — which features Melii, Black-Am-I, Busy Signal, and Kabaka Pyramid — he opened up about Jo Mersa’s writing skills.
“Honestly, it depends on the vibe because sometimes you’ll have a melody or an idea, like a whole melody in your head but no beat, and other times, you’ll have a beat and you won’t there’s a rhythm,” he said. “It’s for me, of course. I can’t speak for everyone. Some songs I can finish in one night, and some take longer.”
In a 2014 Jamaica Observer story, he suggested that it would be difficult to follow in his father’s footsteps.
“My father created a legacy by releasing meaningful songs,” he said. “It’s something I have to live with.”
But he said in another interview that there is “no pressure” to live up to his name.
“There are things you have to overcome and things you just have to do and that’s it. We have to go through life you know? There is no pressure for me,” he told entertainment website The Pier that same year. “I’m thankful for being Marley. I am so thankful and grateful that I was born where I was born and placed where God has ordained. I am very grateful and proud.”
He also talked about his grandfather’s legacy in 2021, saying his family often looks at it every year on the anniversary of his death.
“We keep hearing these reflections, talking about these things, about his role not only as a family man and a father, but also in the world and his impact on the Reggae community and Reggae culture, roots, development. the message of Rastafari and love, above all love,” he told Reggaeville.
