Born in Philly to Cuban immigrants and raised in Miami, Johnny Dread (Juan Carlos Guardiola) made his first mark on the basketball court, earning a full scholarship to FIU—before a spiritual shift pulled him into music. Immersed in Rasta culture in the late '80s, he co-founded COPACETIC with Marley relatives and reggae legends, landing Ghetto Rock at #7 on Billboard's Reggae Charts.

His solo journey began in Jamaica with Scarecrow (1997), produced by Wilburn "Squidly" Cole. He followed with Chapter One, launching the Seven Revelations series, and his latest release, Full Circle, continues to draw fans globally. Fusing classic reggae with Afro-Caribbean soul, Johnny Dread has shared stages with icons like Lauryn Hill, Steel Pulse, and the Marleys.

Now based in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, he's become a local legend—"Tio" to many—and continues bridging roots reggae with Latin identity, most recently in his powerful visual ode to Cuba, Mi Isla Cuba.