The Legacy of Jo Mersa Marley
This is a short story about the short-lived life and times of Jo Mersa Marley as a Reggae Star.
Joseph “Jo Mersa” Marley (31) a reggae singer-songwriter and grandson of Bob Marley, was found dead in Miami-Dade County on Dec. 26, 2022, inside a vehicle. A South Florida radio station WZPP posted on Instagram that his death was due to an asthma attack.
Jo Mersa was born in Kingston, Jamaica, the son of Stephen Marley who was one of eleven children ( Sharon, Cedella, Ziggy, Stephen, Robbie, Rohan, Karen, and Stephanie)in the Marley family who followed Bob Marley’s path as a musical artist. Music was in his blood as he grew up as a toddler, he joined the family’s band, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers on stage. Ziggy Marley was his uncle.
As a teenager in high school, Jo Mersa migrated from Jamaica to Miami. He released his first single, the dancehall track “My Girl” with his cousin Daniel Bambaata Marley, Ziggy Marley’s son. He studied engineering at Miami Dade College. In 2014, he released his first solo album, “Comfortable.” Teaming up with his brother, Yohan Marley, they dropped his most memorable single, the political anthem, “Burn It Down.” Jo Mersa while following in the Marley legacy desired to create his own uniqueness in his music and its impact on his many fans. He felt following his father’s legacy was challenging. He declared that…
