Bob Marley's grandson dies: Jamaican-American reggae artist Joseph Mersa Marley is found dead

Jamaican-American reggae artist Joseph Mersa Marley is dead at the age of 31. 

The musician was found unresponsive in a vehicle in the United States on Tuesday, according to the streaming service TIDAL. The initial announcment did not specify a location.

The artist – who went by his stage name Jo Mersa – had reportedly suffered from asthma his entire life, and the Florida radio station WZPP claimed he died of an asthma attack.

He is the grandson of iconic reggae musician Bob Marley and the son of Stephen Marley. 

Bob tragically died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36, and is widely considered one of the pioneers of reggae music. The late star had 11 children with seven different partners.

Jamaican-American reggae artist Joseph Mersa Marley - who is the grandson of Bob Marley - has been found dead at the age of 31. Seen in 2015

Jamaican-American reggae artist Joseph Mersa Marley – who is the grandson of Bob Marley – has been found dead at the age of 31. Seen in 2015

Bob tragically died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36, and is widely considered one of the pioneers of reggae music. The late star had 11 children with seven different partners. Here he is seen at a signing at Tower Records Sunset in Los Angeles in 1979

Bob tragically died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36, and is widely considered one of the pioneers of reggae music. The late star had 11 children with seven different partners. Here he is seen at a signing at Tower Records Sunset in Los Angeles in 1979

DailyMail.com has reached out to Joseph’s representatives for comment. 

Joseph Mersa Marley spent his early years in Jamaica, where he attended Saints Peter and Paul Preparatory School. He then moved to Florida where he was a student at Palmetto High School. When at Miami Dade College he studied studio engineering.

In 2014 he released the EP called Comfortable and in 2021 he came out with Eternal. 

There is a new movie about Bob Marley in the works. 

Kingsley Ben-Adir is set to portray the legendary singer in the movie, which will be helmed by King Richard director Reinaldo Marcus Green and produced by Rita Marley, and her and Bob’s son Ziggy, and daughter Cedella Marley.

The musician was found unresponsive in a vehicle on Tuesday. Seen in 2017

The musician was found unresponsive in a vehicle on Tuesday. Seen in 2017

Lashana Lynch – the No Time To Die star who portrayed MI6 agent Nomi in the James Bond epic – will play Rita, Bob Marley’s widow.

There was a lengthy search to find the right actress for the part, according to Deadline, and movie bosses were keen to find someone with Jamaican descent. While Lynch was born in London, her family is from Jamaica.

He is the grandson of musician iconic reggae musician Bob Marley and the son of Stephen Marley. Seen in 2018

He is the grandson of musician iconic reggae musician Bob Marley and the son of Stephen Marley. Seen in 2018

Bob tragically died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36, but he is widely considered one of the pioneers of reggae music.

The late star had 11 children with seven different partners, and Ziggy, 51, previously admitted his mother Rita, 76, Bob’s widow, treated them all like her own.

He said: ‘Some people didn’t approve of Bob seeing other women while he was married to my mother, but I didn’t know too much about it, so it never bothered me. I know that my mother didn’t like it, but she wasn’t the kind of person to be vindictive or jealous.

‘As far as she was concerned, Damian [whose mother is Cindy Breakspeare, a former Miss World] was Bob’s child and all of Bob’s children were her children too.’

Marley spent his early years in Jamaica, where he attended Saints Peter and Paul Preparatory School. Seen in 2014

Marley spent his early years in Jamaica, where he attended Saints Peter and Paul Preparatory School. Seen in 2014

Good dad: While Bob was known as the king of chill, Ziggy previously admitted his father could be a tough parent because he was aware of the 'danger' of life in Jamaica. Seen in 1975

Good dad: While Bob was known as the king of chill, Ziggy previously admitted his father could be a tough parent because he was aware of the ‘danger’ of life in Jamaica. Seen in 1975

While Bob was known as the king of chill, Ziggy previously admitted his father could be a tough parent because he was aware of the ‘danger’ of life in Jamaica.

He said: ‘Growing up in Jamaica in the 1970s could be dangerous. There were guns everywhere. But as a kid the danger felt exciting. Every day was an adventure. I did not understand the seriousness of the situation.

‘There were times when my father would tell me not to play on the street because he wanted to keep me safe. If I disobeyed him, he would give me a spanking.

‘People think Bob was laid back about everything, but he was tough when it came to discipline.

‘That is a traditional type of Caribbean parenting – old-school. Kids grow up very differently today.’

Bob's grandsons Yohan Marley, left, and Joseph, right, visit Fox 29's Good Day at FOX 29 Studio in 2015 in Philadelphia

Bob’s grandsons Yohan Marley, left, and Joseph, right, visit Fox 29’s Good Day at FOX 29 Studio in 2015 in Philadelphia

source: dailymail.co.uk