Jon Small, Drummer In Early Billy Joel Bands, Has Died

Jon Small, who served as drummer for Billy Joel’s early bands The Hassles and Attilla and later established himself as a noted music‑video and concert‑film director, has passed away. Joel shared his loss in a recent social‑media update, which also circulates online stating he died on Friday. His burial is scheduled for September 9 in Great Neck, New York. No specific cause of death has been disclosed.

Small and Joel rose up together in New York City during their teenage years; they first bonded as members of the psychedelic‑hardcore folk group The Hassles. The duo issued two albums with United Artists in the late ’60s, when Joel, the chief songwriter, stepped into lead vocal duties for the 1969 record Hour Of The Wolf. Frustrated by their dynamic, the pair broke apart and formed the duo Attila, whose self‑titled studio album was released on Epic in 1970.

Attila folded the next year after Joel’s relationship with Small’s wife, Elizabeth Weber, a topic extensively explored in the HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes. Guilt over this betrayal drove Joel to attempt self‑harm by lathering furniture polish, yet Small intervened, whisking him to the hospital. This tumultuous episode inspired the song “Tomorrow Is Today” from Joel’s 1971 solo effort Cold Spring Harbor.

Small established a reputation as a seasoned filmmaker, directing iconic music videos and live‑performance documentaries. Among his notable works are the Aerosmith and Run‑DMC collaboration on the landmark “Walk This Way” clip, several Garth Brooks pieces— including “The Red Strokes” and “Standing Outside The Fire”— and recordings for vocalists such as Anita Baker and Luther Vandross. He also created numerous Billy Joel video segments, featuring tracks like “Tell Her About It” and the Ray Charles duet “Baby Grand”. Later, Small turned his attention to concert‑filmmaking, directing projects for country leaders including Brooks, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, and Rascal Flatts, as well as collaborations with Van Morrison and additional Billy Joel concert specials.

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