Bob Marley’s grandson Joseph Mersa Marley dies aged 31

Bob Marley's grandson Jo Mersa Marley has died from a suspected asthma attack. Photo / Getty Images

Bob Marley’s musician grandson has died aged 31.

Jamaican-American rising reggae star Joseph Mersa Marley was found unresponsive in a vehicle in America on Tuesday, according to the streaming service TIDAL.

Marley, who went by the stage name Jo Mersa, had reportedly suffered from asthma his whole life, with South Florida radio station WZPP claiming he had died of an asthma attack.

His grandfather Bob was killed by cancer in 1981 aged 36, and was survived by 11 children with seven different women.

Jo was raised in Jamaica, where he attended Saints Peter and Paul Preparatory School, before he moved to Florida where he was a student at Palmetto High School.

He studied studio engineering while at Miami Dade College and in 2014 released his EP Comfortable, followed last year by Eternal.

It’s not known whether he will feature in the new biopic of Bob Marley’s life currently being made, which stars Kingsley Ben-Adir, 36, as the reggae icon.

Jo, whose dad is musician Stephen Marley, 50, suggested in a 2014 interview with the Jamaica Observer that following in his father’s footsteps was challenging. He said: “My father has created a legacy by putting out songs with meaning. It’s something I have to live up to.”

Jo added in a separate chat with The Pier he felt “no pressure” to live up to his famous surname. He said: “There’s things that you have to overcome and things you just have to do and that’s how it is. We have to go through life you know?

“There’s no pressure for me. I give thanks for being a Marley. I’m very appreciative and thankful that I am born where I am born and put where God has decided. I’m very thankful about it and proud.”

Fellow musicians paid tribute to the young singer, with UB40′s Ali Campbell saying he was a “beautiful soul”.