Bob Marley's Grandson, Joseph 'Jo Mersa' Marley, Has Died
Joseph 'Jo Mersa' Marley, grandson of Bob Marley and son of Grammy-winning artist Stephen Marley, has died at 31-years-old.
Reggae artist, Joseph 'Jo Mersa' Marley, grandson of reggae legend Bob Marleyand son of Grammy-winning artist Stephen Marley, has died. He was 31. Mersa's death was first reported in a tweet by journalist Abka Fitz-Henley, who said that the 31-year-old was "found unresponsive in a vehicle" on Tuesday (December 27). Rolling Stone officially confirmed news of Mersa's death.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica on March 12, 1991, Mersa moved to Miami at 11, where he attended Palmetto High School before enrolling at Miami Dade College, the latter where he studied studio engineering. Following in the footsteps of his father Stephen – one of Bob Marley's eleven children – Mersa began to write music in middle school, later releasing song "My Girl" — a collaboration with his cousin Daniel Bambaata Marley — in 2010. In 2014, Mersa dropped his debut EP, Comfortable, followed by his latest and second EP, Eternal, released last year.
Around the release of Eternal, Mersa spoke to Reggaeville.com about his grandfather's legacy, although Marley died in 1981 at 36-years-old, ten years before Mersa's birth.
"Family-wise, you would hear memories from my father or from our uncles, you would see them posting pictures or even just speaking to us in an environment talking about 'I remember when Daddy did this or when he came from Africa or when Daddy did this interview or when he was in Italy,' Mersa said at the time. So, we always hear those reflections, speaking about those things, about the role that he played not only as family member and father, but also in the world and the impact he had on the Reggae community and the Reggae culture, the roots, bringing forward the message of Rastafari and love, over all love..."
Also mourning Mersa's death on Tuesday was Jamaican politician, Mark J. Golding.
"I've just learned of the tragic loss of Joseph 'Jo Mersa' Marley. A talented young reggae artiste, son of Stephen Marley & grandson of Bob Marley at only 31 yrs old," he tweeted. "The loss of a child is a devastating blow no parent should face, my condolences to Stephen & the entire family."
Read more tributes to Joseph 'Jo Mersa' Marley below.