Full Breakdown
Jon Small, Early Billy Joel Bandmate and Longtime Collaborator, Dies in His Late 70s
9/8/2026, 12:42:12 PM
Core Event: Jon Small’s Passing and Public Tributes
Jon Small, the drummer who played with Billy Joel in the 1960s bands the Hassles and Attila and later became a noted music-video and concert-film director, has died in his late 70s. Joel announced the loss on Instagram with a brief “RIP Jon Small” post accompanied by a throwback photo of the two men and a more recent picture of them together. A funeral service is scheduled for early September in Great Neck, New York; Small will be interred at New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon. No cause of death has been disclosed.
Background & Context: Early Bands, Personal Fallout, and Reconciliation
Small recruited the teenage Joel into the Hassles in the mid-1960s after the group lost its original keyboardist. The Hassles released two United Artists albums, with Joel taking over lead vocals on the 1969 LP *Hour of the Wolf*. In 1970 the pair left the Hassles to form the hard-rock duo Attila, issuing a self-titled album on Epic. While living together with Small’s wife Elizabeth Weber and their son Sean, Joel fell in love with Weber. Small later recounted that Joel confessed his feelings, describing the revelation as “devastating” because the two men were best friends. The affair led to Attila’s dissolution, Joel’s eviction from Small’s house, and a temporary rupture of their friendship.
The two eventually reconciled. In the 1980s Small produced several Joel music videos, including “Uptown Girl,” “Keeping the Faith,” and “Tell Her About It.” Their partnership extended to concert-film projects such as *Live From Long Island* and *Live at Shea Stadium*. Small also directed videos for Run-D.M.C., Aerosmith, Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers, Reba McEntire, and others.
Data & Statistics: Career Highlights
- 1970 – Attila releases its sole album on Epic Records.
- 1992 – Small receives a Grammy nomination for producing Joel’s *Live at Yankee Stadium* concert film.
- 2025 – The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame inducts Small and the Hassles.
Official Statements & Responses
Billy Joel’s Instagram tribute confirmed Small’s death and underscored their long-standing bond. The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame issued an obituary noting Small’s “kind, approachable, generous” nature and his impact on numerous artists. No additional details about the circumstances of his passing have been released by family or representatives.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker,” — Billy Joel
Timeline
- Mid-1960s – Small recruits Joel into the Hassles.
- 1969 – *Hour of the Wolf* released; Joel becomes lead vocalist.
- 1970 – Attila’s self-titled album released; personal relationship with Weber begins.
- 1992 – Grammy nomination for *Live at Yankee Stadium*.
- 2025 – Hall of Fame induction of Small and the Hassles.
- 2026 – Small’s death announced; funeral scheduled for early September.
What’s Next
The funeral service set for early September will allow friends, family, and colleagues to pay their respects. No further public events or memorial projects have been announced at this time.
