John Barbata

John "Johny" Barbata (born 1 April 1945) is an American drummer, born in Passaic, New Jersey, and raised in San Luis Obispo, California, active especially in pop and rock bands in the 1960s and 1970s, both as a band member and as a session drummer. 

Barbata has served as the drummer for The Sentinals; The Turtles; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Jefferson Airplane (for its final album and tour only); Jefferson Starship (from 1974 to 1978); and Sammy & the Holly Rebs with guitarist Sam DeLuca. 

Already an established session drummer when he joined The Turtles, Barbata was one of the pioneering drummers who converted pop music rhythms from the down-beat rhythms of the 1950s to the off-beat rhythms that have dominated ever since.

Barbata was born on April 1, 1945, in Passaic, New Jersey, to Martina and Charles Barbata. He was raised in Saranac Lake, New York till the age of seven and later in Nutley, New Jersey. His mother was an Austrian immigrant who worked as a records keeper at a hospital and his father was a firefighter and mechanic. He was the youngest child of three, preceded by his older brother Chuck and sister Lauren. His first claim to fame came to him as a young infant when his mother found a man stranded in a boat that had run out of gas. The man was Albert Einstein. Einstein held the child as Barbata's mother delivered them to shore.

Barbata's interest in percussion began as he watched his older brother drumming in the marching band. After expressing interest in drums, Barbata's brother brought him to a friend's house where Barbata played on his first trap set. The first song he ever learned to play was "Put Another Nickel In" by Teresa Brewer.

The Sentinals (1961–1965)

At the age of 16, Barbata's family relocated for a brief stint to Rialto, California where Barbata formed his first band called the Velvatones. Soon after the family moved to San Luis Obispo, California where Barbata went to high school and followed in his older brother's footsteps and joined the marching band. The rudimentary rhythms and beats from Barbata's time playing the drums heavily influenced his technique in later years. He soon went on to help form a band called the Ambassadors and bought his first set of drums. After playing gigs every weekend for 6 months, Barbata was approached by an instrumental surf-rock group called the Sentinals to play drums. The Sentinals toured all over the country with acts such as the Righteous Brothers and released the album Big Surf! which produced a #1 West Coast surf hit called "Latin'ia".

After five years with the Sentinals, the band broke up, and Barbata along with his bandmate, Lee Michaels, headed out to Hollywood. Shortly after, Barbata joined Joel Scott Hill of Canned Heat, after his drummer left and went on to play with the Mamas and Papas. Joel, Barbata, and Chris Ethridge later went on to put out the album L.A. Getaway in 1971.

The Turtles (1966-1970)

In the Spring of 1966, The Turtles were looking for a new drummer and Gene Clark of the Byrds recommended Barbata. After an audition with Howard Kaylan, Mark Volman, and Al Nichol, Barbata was accepted in the band. The first song Barbata recorded with the Turtles was "Happy Together" and on March 25, 1967, "Happy Together" went to #1 on the charts.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970-1972)

Barbata joined CSNY in 1970 after Neil Young fired their previous drummer, Dallas Taylor. In April 1971, CSNY released their third album (first live album) 4 Way Street, with Barbata. The album went to #1 on the Billboard 200. 

The album carries the protest song "Ohio", about the Kent State College shootings. Barbata continued to play on eight albums with CSNY and the individual members of the quartet, including Graham Nash's Songs for Beginners and Stephen Stills' Stephen Stills album. He also played drums for Neil Young's live album Time Fades Away, replacing the existing drummer Kenneth Buttrey who left due to a financial dispute.

While Barbata was drumming with CSNY, David Geffen tried to persuade him to join The Eagles. Barbata declined as he was already in one of the biggest musical groups at the time.

Jefferson Airplane & Jefferson Starship (1972-1978)

In 1972, David Crosby introduced Barbata to the Jefferson Airplane, who at the time were looking for a new drummer after their previous drummer, Joey Covington, left to do a solo album. 

Barbata agreed and together they recorded the album Long John Silver (1972) and the live album Thirty Seconds Over Winterland (1973).

Jefferson Airplane was reformed into Jefferson Starship, adding new members Craig Chaquico and David Freiberg. After a few albums with Jefferson Starship, Barbata ran into a major car accident in October 1978, which forced him to leave the band. 

Other notable collaborations:

• With The Strangers guitarist Joel Scott Hill and bassist Bob Mosley
• He has also worked as a session musician for Leon Russell and Dave Mason

Barbata retired from playing music for big bands at the age of 33, after which he built a house and recording studio in the remote redwood village of Comptche, California. He continued making music locally. 

On July 3, 1981, Barbata married the Oklahoma native and artist, Angela Evans (1961-2016). They released two albums together, California and Oklahoma. In 1987, their daughter Leah was born. They later relocated to his late wife's hometown of Ada, Oklahoma, and currently reside there. 

In 2016, after 34 years of marriage, his wife (Angela) died from cancer. Barbata continues to play music, often performing with past band members or his singer-songwriter daughter.

• The Sentinals Big Surf! 1963
• The Sentinals Vegas Go Go 1964
• The Turtles Happy Together 1967
• The Turtles The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands 1968
• Lee Michaels Recital 1968
• Linda Ronstadt Hand Sown ... Home Grown 1969
• The Fool The Fool 1969
• Ry Cooder Ry Cooder 1970
• Stephen Stills Stephen Stills 1970
• Ethridge/Hill/Barbata L.A. Getaway 1971
• Johnny Rivers Home Grown 1971
• Batdorf & Rodney Off the Shelf 1971
• David Blue Stories 1971
• John Sebastian The Four of Us 1971
• Judee Sill Judee Sill 1971
• The Everly Brothers Stories We Could Tell 1972
• Graham Nash & David Crosby Graham Nash David Crosby
• Graham Nash Songs for Beginners 1972
• Neil Young Time Fades Away 1972
• J.D. Souther John David Souther 1972
• Jefferson Airplane Long John Silver 1972
• Jefferson Airplane Thirty Seconds Over Winterland 1973
• Graham Nash Wild Tales 1973
• David Blue Nice Baby and the Angel 1973
• The Byrds Byrds 1973
• Booker T. & Priscilla Jones Chronicles 1973
• Paul Kantner, Grace Slick and David Freiberg Baron von Tollbooth & the Chrome Nun 1973
• Grace Slick Manhole 1974
• Jefferson Starship Dragon Fly 1974
• Jefferson Starship Red Octopus 1975
• Jefferson Starship Spitfire 1976
• Jefferson Starship Flight Log 1977
• Jefferson Starship Earth 1978
• Jefferson Starship Gold 1979
• Philo Hayward Rounder 1981