Barbata was born on Easter, 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 emigrant 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, who 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.
Barbata was born on Easter, 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 emigrant 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, who 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.
John Barbata