By Global Music Desk
Published: May 2026
Executive Overview
The global music community is mourning the loss of Jon Small, a foundational figure in the pre-fame evolution of the "Piano Man," Billy Joel. A talented drummer, early bandmate, and pioneering collaborator, Small’s relationship with Joel spanned more than half a century. Their shared history was marked by raw, garage-rock ambition on the clubs of Long Island, a dramatic personal upheaval that became part of rock-and-roll folklore, and an eventual, profound reconciliation that resulted in enduring visual art behind the camera.
While Small’s exact age and cause of death remained unconfirmed at press time, the news was broken by Billy Joel himself through a poignant tribute shared across social media. Small’s passing closes the final chapter on an era that preceded global stadium tours, record-breaking chart entries, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions. Instead, it invites a retrospective look at the humble, turbulent, and deeply human origins of one of American pop music’s most celebrated singer-songwriters.
Detailed Chronology: From Long Island Rock Clubs to Hard-Rock Duos
Long before Billy Joel was headlining arenas across the world, he was navigating the gritty, high-energy trenches of the late-1960s suburban New York music scene. It was here that his creative partnership with Jon Small was forged.
The Hassles and the Birth of Psychedelic Soul
In the late 1960s, Joel and Small joined forces in The Hassles, a Long Island-based psychedelic-soul and rock band. Signed to United Artists Records, the group released two studio albums: their self-titled debut The Hassles (1967) and the follow-up Hour of the Wolf (1969).
Although the band achieved moderate critical attention, commercial success eluded them. The rigorous touring schedule and stylistic shifts of the era strained the group’s internal dynamics, leading to its eventual dissolution. However, the creative chemistry between Joel and Small remained strong, prompting the pair to embark on a radical, experimental musical venture.
Attila: The Organ-and-Drums Experiment
In 1970, Joel and Small pushed the boundaries of their musicianship by forming Attila, a heavy psych-rock and proto-metal duo. Stripping away the traditional lineup of guitars and bass, the band relied exclusively on Small’s aggressive, pounding drum kits and Joel’s heavily distorted, over-driven Hammond organ.
Attila signed with Epic Records and released their self-titled debut album in July 1970. The record is now legendary among music historians and hardcore Joel fans for its sheer sonic volume, abrasive aesthetic, and eccentric album cover, which featured the duo dressed as barbaric warriors standing in a meat locker. Despite its cult status today, the project was commercially unsuccessful and short-lived, setting the stage for an abrupt end to their musical partnership driven by personal drama.
The Personal Upheaval: Romance, Betrayal, and Forgiveness
The most infamous chapter of Joel and Small’s shared history centers around Elizabeth Weber, Small’s then-wife. During the period when Joel was struggling financially and living in the home shared by Small and Weber, a romance blossomed between Joel and Weber.
The Confession and the Fallout
As detailed candidly in recent retrospective interviews and the documentary And So It Goes, the revelation permanently shattered the dynamic of their friendship and ended Attila.
In the documentary, Small reflected on the devastating realization with striking emotional transparency:
"Elizabeth was very important to me, but I think I was not the guy she hoped I would be… I kept seeing that Billy was not the same guy. Something was the matter. And Billy one day came up to me, became a little honest, and said to me, ‘I’m in love with your wife.’ So it was a very devastating thing for me, because these were basically my two best friends."
Joel, addressing the complex web of guilt surrounding the affair, acknowledged the immediate and physical consequences of his actions:
"I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker. I was just in love with a woman, and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset."
Following the fallout, Joel and Weber married in 1973 (a marriage that ultimately ended in divorce in 1982). Meanwhile, the personal rupture caused Joel and Small to spend years estranged.
The Path to Reconciliation
Time, maturity, and a shared foundation allowed the two men to bridge the chasm of their past. Years later, Small and Joel repaired their friendship, transitioning from estranged former bandmates into collaborative creative partners once more.
Small offered deep insight into Joel’s internal processing of the affair during the filming of And So It Goes:
"He never really said anything to me. The only practical answer I can give as to why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much. Eventually I forgave him."
Behind the Camera: Small’s Directorial Career and Contributions to Joel’s Legacy
Following the resolution of their personal conflicts, Jon Small transitioned successfully from behind the drum kit to behind the camera lens, carving out an impressive career as a director of music videos and concert films.
Capturing the Piano Man on Film
Small played an instrumental role in shaping the visual legacy of Billy Joel’s career during his peak commercial years. His directorial credits for Joel include:
- Live From Long Island (1983): A landmark concert film capturing Joel at the height of his The Nylon Curtain era, performing in front of his hometown audience.
- Live at Shea Stadium (2008): Documenting Joel’s historic, final concerts at the legendary New York stadium before its demolition, featuring guest appearances by Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, and Garth Brooks.
- "Baby Grand" Music Video: Small directed the official music video for this iconic duet between Billy Joel and Ray Charles, capturing the profound mutual respect and musical synergy between the two legends.
Expanding into Country and Pop Videography
Small’s directorial talents extended far beyond his work with Billy Joel. Throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, he built a prolific portfolio in Nashville and Los Angeles, directing cinematic music videos for top-tier artists across genres, including:
- Reba McEntire
- Enrique Iglesias
- Brooks & Dunn
His transition from drummer to director underscored a multifaceted artistic vision that allowed him to thrive in the entertainment industry long after his days playing in gritty rock clubs.
Supporting Context & Metrics: Billy Joel’s Stature in Music History
Jon Small’s life and career will forever be tethered to the monumental legacy of Billy Joel—a legacy built on decades of chart dominance, critical acclaim, and cultural impact. To understand the stakes of Joel’s early years with Small is to recognize the heights that Joel ultimately achieved.
Chart Performance and Commercial Milestones
As one of the best-selling music artists of all time, Joel’s statistics within the Billboard charts highlight an extraordinary career:
- Billboard Hot 100 Entries: 43 songs charting overall.
- Top 10 Hits: 13 tracks reaching the upper tier of the Hot 100.
- No. 1 Hits: Three chart-topping smashes:
- "It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me" (1980)
- "Tell Her About It" (1983)
- "We Didn’t Start the Fire" (1989)
Industry Accolades
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1999 by Ray Charles, cementing Joel’s status among American songwriting royalty.
- Songwriters Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1992.
- Kennedy Center Honors: Received in 2013 for a lifetime of contributions to American culture through the performing arts.
The renewed focus on And So It Goes and the passing of Jon Small provide modern audiences with a stark reminder that these stadium-filling milestones were built on the backs of early experiments, painful life lessons, and brotherhoods forged in the basements of Long Island.
Official Statements and Industry Tributes
As news of Small’s passing circulated, tributes poured in from colleagues, fans, and music historians who recognized his crucial, foundational role in early American rock history.
Billy Joel’s official social media tribute served as a heartfelt farewell to a man who shared both his earliest creative triumphs and his most profound personal trials. While formal statements from members of the Small family have remained private as they navigate their grief, the artistic community has universally acknowledged Small’s contributions—not only as a driving rhythmic force in The Hassles and Attila, but as a visionary director who helped visually immortalize some of the greatest performances in pop and country music history.
Future Outlook: Preserving the Untold Stories of Rock’s Foundation
The passing of Jon Small marks the fading of another direct link to the golden age of 1960s and 1970s American rock-and-roll subculture. As documentaries like And So It Goes continue to shed light on the pre-fame struggles of icons like Billy Joel, figures like Small ensure we remember that success rarely happens in a vacuum. It is built on collaboration, conflict, resilience, and, ultimately, forgiveness.
Moving forward, Small’s legacy will endure through the cult-classic recordings of The Hassles and Attila, the cinematic frames of his concert films and music videos, and the historical record of a friendship that survived the ultimate test. As music historians continue to document the roots of classic rock, Jon Small’s chapter will remain a testament to the complex, beautifully human journey behind the music.
