Family, friends celebrate Jo Mersa at eternal earthstrong tribute concert

Bob Marley’s former home and recording studio provided the backdrop to music, movement and memories on Saturday, as Joseph ‘Jo Mersa’ Marley’s tribute concert unfolded at the Bob Marley Museum before a large audience who came to honour the late reggae artiste, who passed away more than three years ago.

Dubbed the Old Soul Live Unplugged concert, it celebrated the anniversary of his March 12 birthday and featured his family members, friends and associates of his father, Stephen Marley, who helped anchor the spectacular two-and-a-half-hour set.

Despite the shuttle service, traffic and long lines slowed patrons along Hope Road in St Andrew as the crowds, more than half of whom were overseas visitors, converged at the front of the house, the lawns hosting the stage and most of the evening’s activities. The show got underway just over an hour after its scheduled start, though DJs Bambino and Rassarella kept patrons engaged and entertained.

Stephen Marley opened the show on drums with an acoustic version of The Abyssinians’ Satta Massagana, a fitting opening as its meaning in Ethiopian is ‘give thanks and praise’, which he did musically for his son. Dressed in white as were all the rest of the family, he went into Put it on, Trench Town Rock, Easy Skanking and These Foolish Things (Reminds Me Of You). The music quickly had the crowd moving, as even in the small confines, people made space to dance up a storm.

With a voice similar to his father’s, Stephen Marley then switched it up and showed off his versatility to the hungry crowd with some jazz-infused tunes. Borrowing from Ray Charles’ Georgia on my Mind, he swapped out the name of the US state and injected “Jamdown on my mind”, much to the delight of the gathering.

Ras-I was the first artiste he called on to bless the event, and he offered up Somewhere Wonderful, followed by Jemere Morgan, who sang Try Jah Love. Stephen Marley then invited several of his children to join him onstage with his son, Hymn, delivering Since You’ve Been Gone, an ode to the loss of his older brother. Mystic Marley did her grandmother Rita Marley’s song Harambe before Yohan Marley got militant with Jo Mersa’s Rock and Swing and Burn It Down.

Jesse Royal, Queen Ifrica, Romain Virgo, Richie Spice and Warrior King would soon follow. Richie Spice had the crowd moving as he started The Plane Land offstage, warming up the audience before stepping onstage. He then followed with Marijuana Pon De Corner and Earth a Run Red. Claiming that she is the oldest female deejay in Jamaica, Sister Carol touched the stage with Murdee & Stylee, and the audience soaked them up.

With The Mission and Shoot Out, the Marley brothers, Stephen and Damian, gave the audience a jam session, and this was further heightened when Jr Gong called up his son, Elijah, to join them with The Heathen. Julian also came to work the crowd with Three Little Birds and Straighter Roads. The brothers then closed out the evening with Could You Be Loved, It’s Alright, and Lion of Judah.

In announcing the launch of the Jo Mersa Legacy Fund on Thursday, the actual date of his birthday, Stephen Marley shared that the project will support the youth and give them access to music, wellness, and inspiration.

“This initiative will honour Joseph, his legacy, and his spirit,” Jo Mersa’s mother, Kerry-Ann Smith, said as several family members, including Jo Mersa’s siblings and daughter, Sunshine Marley, were invited onstage to symbolically cut his birthday cake.

An emotional Smith expressed her gratitude for the continued outpouring of love she and Stephen Marley have received from people all over Jamaica and the wider world. “Jo was our first son. He was an amazing son. I loved him so much. It was an honour for me to be his mother, and as a mother, you have no idea the pain of the loss of a child, especially someone so honourable. It is hard for his father and I, but still we celebrate his life and look to build on his legacy.”

nicola.cunningham@gleanerjm.com