Executive Overview
The global music community is mourning the loss of Jon Small, a foundational figure in the early career of legendary singer-songwriter Billy Joel. Small, whose multi-decade relationship with the artist known universally as the "Piano Man" traversed the high-octane grit of late-1960s Long Island rock clubs, deeply personal betrayals, professional reconciliation, and visionary music video direction, has passed away. While his exact age and cause of death remain undisclosed at the time of publication, the reverberations of his passing are felt deeply across the entertainment industry.
Small’s legacy is inextricably linked to the origin story of Billy Joel. Long before stadiums sold out across the globe and multi-platinum records filled trophy cases, Small and Joel shared cramped rehearsal spaces, van benches, and the grueling, uncertain grind of the pre-fame rock circuit. Their partnership gave birth to pioneering musical experiments like The Hassles and Attila—acts that tested the boundaries of contemporary sound. Yet, their shared history is equally defined by a dramatic personal rupture: an infamous love triangle involving Small’s then-wife, Elizabeth Weber. This profound betrayal fractured their personal and professional bonds for years.
However, the story of Jon and Billy is ultimately one of redemption, forgiveness, and enduring creative synergy. Following a hard-won reconciliation, Small transitioned successfully from behind the drum kit to behind the lens, directing iconic concert films for Joel, as well as landmark music videos for a diverse roster of country and pop superstars. As recent retrospectives—most notably the documentary And So It Goes—have brought these early chapters back into the cultural zeitgeist, Small’s passing marks the closing of a deeply human and profoundly influential chapter in modern rock history.
Detailed Chronology: From Long Island Clubs to Creative Reconciliation
The Formative Years: The Hassles and Attila
The musical journey of Jon Small and Billy Joel began in the fertile, fiercely competitive crucible of the Long Island music scene during the mid-to-late 1960s. Small, an energetic and precise drummer, crossed paths with a young, fiercely ambitious keyboardist and vocalist named Billy Joel. Together with fellow musicians, they formed The Hassles, a soulful psychedelic-rock outfit that captured the raw energy of the era.
Signed to United Artists Records, The Hassles released a self-titled debut album in 1967, followed by Hour of the Wolf in 1969. While the band achieved moderate local success and critical curiosity, commercial stardom eluded them. The relentless touring and lack of mainstream breakthrough eventually caused the group to fracture.
Undeterred by the disbandment of The Hassles, Small and Joel forged ahead as a two-man musical experiment known as Attila. Stripping away traditional guitars and bass, Attila was a pioneering heavy-psych/proto-metal duo built entirely around Joel’s distorted Hammond organ and Small’s thunderous, driving percussion. The duo signed with Epic Records and released a notoriously loud, self-titled album in 1970. Though retrospectively viewed as a fascinating curio of early heavy metal, Attila was commercially unsuccessful and critically maligned at the time. More importantly, the internal dynamics of the duo were about to suffer an irreparable blow.
The Personal Rupture and the Shadow of Elizabeth Weber
During the intense recording and touring cycle of Attila, Joel was living under the same roof as Jon Small and his wife, Elizabeth Weber. What began as a domestic arrangement soon spiraled into one of the most infamous personal dramas in classic rock lore. Joel and Weber developed deep romantic feelings for one another, leading to a clandestine affair that would shatter the bedrock of Joel and Small’s friendship.
In the revealing documentary And So It Goes, both men reflected on this painful era with striking candor and emotional vulnerability.
"Elizabeth was very important to me, but I think I was not the guy she hoped I would be," Small recounted in the film. "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, confronting the deep-seated guilt of the affair decades later, acknowledged the profound damage he caused. "I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker," Joel admitted in the documentary. "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."
The fallout was absolute. Attila dissolved instantly, and Small and Joel ceased all communication. Joel subsequently married Weber in 1973—a tumultuous marriage that ultimately ended in divorce in 1982, though Weber served as a crucial early business manager and muse who inspired many of Joel’s early romantic ballads.
Redemption and Behind-the-Lens Collaboration
Time, maturity, and a shared history allowed the wounds between Small and Joel to heal. Years after the betrayal, the two men quietly reconciled, rebuilding a bond rooted not in the friction of youthful ambition, but in mutual respect and shared creative history.
As Small pivoted from music performance to visual media, this reconciliation blossomed into a powerful professional partnership behind the camera. Small transitioned into a prolific director, bringing his innate musicality to the visual medium. He directed several seminal concert films for his old friend and bandmate, including the acclaimed Live From Long Island and Live at Shea Stadium. Additionally, Small directed the music video for Joel’s evocative track "Baby Grand" (his duet with Ray Charles).
Small’s directorial talents extended far beyond his work with Joel. He built an impressive resume in the country and pop music spheres, helming iconic music videos for legendary acts such as Reba McEntire, Enrique Iglesias, and Brooks & Dunn, cementing his reputation as a versatile and visionary visual storyteller.
Supporting Context & Metrics: Billy Joel’s Musical Footprint
To fully understand the gravity of Jon Small’s early partnership with Billy Joel, one must examine the titanic cultural and commercial empire that Joel eventually built—an empire whose foundational bricks were laid in those drafty Long Island clubs alongside Small.
While Joel’s solo career took off following his 1973 masterpiece Piano Man, his trajectory into the pantheon of global music icons is defined by staggering statistical achievements on the Billboard charts:
- Hot 100 Success: Billy Joel has placed an incredible 43 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart over the span of his illustrious career.
- Top 10 Staples: Of those 43 entries, 13 tracks cracked the highly competitive top 10 tier.
- Number One Hits: Joel secured the coveted No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 three distinct times with iconic anthems:
- "It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me" (1980)
- "Tell Her About It" (1983)
- "We Didn’t Start the Fire" (1989)
- Critical Accolades: In recognition of his indelible impact on popular culture and songwriting, Joel was deservedly inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
Small’s passing serves as a poignant reminder that before the record-breaking stadium residencies, Grammy Awards, and multi-platinum plaques, the man behind the piano was simply a kid from Long Island trying to make noise with his drummer.
Official Statements and Industry Tributes
Following the news of Small’s passing, tributes poured in from across the music community. Billy Joel took to social media to officially announce and honor his late friend, sharing a heartfelt tribute that highlighted the depth of their lifelong bond.
In And So It Goes, Small offered a profound perspective on why Joel carried such heavy guilt regarding the affair of their youth—a sentiment that sheds light on the genuine affection that ultimately survived their darkest moments:
"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."
Industry colleagues, fellow directors, and musicians who worked with Small throughout his prolific second act as a music video director also shared condolences, remembering him as a collaborative, intuitive artist who understood the soul of a song whether he was keeping time behind a drum kit or framing a shot through a camera lens.
Future Outlook and Legacy
The loss of Jon Small closes an important chapter in the living history of classic rock. As generations of music fans continue to discover Billy Joel’s catalog through modern retrospectives, documentaries like And So It Goes, and ongoing live performances, the name Jon Small will forever be preserved as a vital, stabilizing, and deeply human presence in the Piano Man’s origin story.
Small’s journey—from the psychedelic garage rock of The Hassles to the crushing volume of Attila, through the fires of personal betrayal to the grace of forgiveness and creative reinvention—exemplifies the complex, often messy reality behind the creation of timeless art. While the exact details surrounding his passing remain private, his artistic footprint remains indelible. Jon Small leaves behind a legacy of resilience, creative vision, and a quiet, steadfast contribution to the soundtrack of a generation.
