Jon Small dies at 79, Billy Joel remembers longtime friend and collaborator

Singersongwriter Billy Joel is mourning the death of his early bandmate and longtime collaborator Jon Small who died of cancer at the age of 79 Billboard reportedJoel announced Smallrsquos death in a tribute shared on social media Small a drummer and noted music video director shared a decadeslong musical and personal history with Joel that began in Long Island rock clubs and continued through some of the most difficult chapters of Joelrsquos early careerView this post on InstagramA post shared by Billy Joel billyjoelBefore Joel became one of rock and pop musicrsquos most recognised singersongwriters he and Small played together in the Long Island band The Hassles The group released two albums in the late 1960s and was inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2025 Billboard reported The pair later formed Attila a hardrock duo featuring Small on drums and Joel on organThe group released its selftitled album in 1970 Their partnership however came to an abrupt end after Joel fell in love with Smallrsquos wife Elizabeth Weber while he was living with the couple The painful episode which became part of Joelrsquos personal history was revisited in the recent documentary lsquoAnd So It Goesrsquo ldquoElizabeth was very important to me but I think I was not the guy she hoped I would berdquo Small said in the documentaryldquoI 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 lsquoIrsquom in love with your wifersquo So it was a very devastating thing for me because these were basically my two best friendsrdquo Billboard reported Joel also reflected on the affair and its consequencesldquoI 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 upsetrdquo Joel said The affair contributed to the breakup of Attila and temporarily ended the friendship between Joel and Small Joel later married Weber in 1973 with the couple divorcing in 1982 Despite the painful rupture the two eventually reconciled Small said he came to understand the depth of Joelrsquos remorse ldquoHe never really said anything to merdquo Small saidldquoThe 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 himrdquo Billboard reported Small later worked behind the camera on several of Joelrsquos projects including the concert films Live From Long Island and Live at Shea Stadium He also directed Joelrsquos ldquoBaby Grandrdquo music video Beyond his work with Joel Small built a successful career as a music video and concert directorHis credits included videos for Reba McEntire Enrique Iglesias Brooks amp Dunn The Highwaymen and Garth Brooks He directed Brooksrsquo ldquoStanding Outside the Firerdquo video and several of his concert specials as well as RunDMCrsquos ldquoWalk This Wayrdquo featuring Aerosmith Smallrsquos death comes as Joelrsquos early years are being revisited in and So It Goes which chronicles the singerrsquos journey from his prefame bands to his rise as one of the most successful recording artists of his generationJoel has 43 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 including 13 top 10 hits and three No 1 singles mdash ldquoItrsquos Still Rock and Roll to Merdquo ldquoTell Her About Itrdquo and ldquoWe Didnrsquot Start the Firerdquo He was inducted into the Rock amp Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 Billboard reported Small is survived by his wife of more than 40 years Jeanine as well as a son and a daughterThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever