The death of The grandson of Bob Marley, Joseph “Jo Mersa” Marley a reggae singer-songwriter sent waves of shock from America to Jamaica.
News of Marley’s death elicited mourning on social media, including a post from Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
“My heartfelt sympathies to Joseph’s friends and associates and to the Reggae music fraternity and fans everywhere,” Holness tweeted Tuesday.
“His untimely passing at the young age of 31y.o. is a huge loss to the music as we look to the next generation.”
“Jo Mersa” Marley
Joseph “Jo Mersa” Marley a reggae singer-songwriter was found dead in Miami-Dade County, Florida on December 26. On Tuesday (December 27) a rep of Marley confirmed his death to Rolling Stone.
The singer was 31. Jamaican broadcast journalist Abka Fitz-Henley was the first to report Marley’s death. The official cause of death has not been disclosed but Marley was found unresponsive inside a vehicle.
Some reports say that the singer suffered an asthma attack in the vehicle.
Jo Mersa Marley, Stephen Marley’s son, was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He was one of many members of his family who followed in his grandfather’s footsteps as a musician. When he was a toddler, the late singer performed with his family’s band, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.
His uncle is Bob Marley. When Jo Mersa Marley was still a teen and had moved to Miami, he released his first single, dancehall track My Girl, with his cousin Daniel Bambaata Marley, Ziggy Marley’s son.
Jo Mersa Marley released his first solo album, Comfortable, in 2014.
In 2019, he released perhaps his most memorable single, political anthem Burn It Down, with a rousing, contagious hook, with his brother Yohan Marley.
“I am one of the new generation of Marleys, but I am still experimenting at the same time,” Marley told Rolling Stone in 2014 shortly after the release of his first album. “My plan is to do something new with my roots.”
While on a recent US tour, Ali Campbell, an English musical artist and former lead man of reggae band UB40, spent time with Marley.
According to Campbell he was “absolutely shocked to the core” by the death of Marley, whom he called “a delightful young man” and “a real Marley to the core”.
Politicians and Marley death
Jamaican politician Mark Golding also commented on Marley’s death.
“I’ve just learned of the tragic loss of Joseph ‘Jo Mersa’ Marley,” said the opposition leader and president of the People’s National Party.
“The loss of a child is a devastating blow no parent should face, my condolences to Stephen & the entire family.”
Member of Jamaica’s Parliament and minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sports Olivia Grange said she was “deeply saddened” by the news of Marley’s death, calling it “a huge loss to the music as we look to the next generation”.
She shared a video of Marley performing in May at a 60th-anniversary celebration of Jamaica’s independence in Miramar, Florida.
“As a young individual and still an upcoming and aspiring artist, I want to pay my respects to the legends in our circle,” Marley said to the audience, pointing to other artists who had joined him onstage.
“If you don’t know your past, you don’t know your future,” Marley said, before launching into a cover of One Love.
Marley, a native of Jamaica who grew up in Miami, was mourned by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Tuesday.
“This is truly sad news; sending strength to the Marley family at this time,” Holness wrote in a tweet.
According to WZPP Radio, Marley is survived by his wife and daughter. Other surviving relatives include his father Stephen and several siblings.