Billy Joel Pays Tribute to Early Bandmate and Director Jon Small, Dead at 79

Singer-songwriter Billy Joel has paid tribute to Jon Small, his former bandmate and longtime collaborator, who died of cancer at the age of 79. Joel announced the news in a social media post, remembering a man who shared both his early musical journey and some of its most difficult moments.

Small and Joel first played together in The Hassles, a Long Island band that released two albums in the late 1960s and was inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2025. The pair later formed Attila, a hard-rock duo with Small on drums and Joel on organ, which released its sole album in 1970.

Their partnership ended abruptly after Joel fell in love with Small's wife, Elizabeth Weber, while living with the couple. The affair, revisited in the recent documentary 'And So It Goes', was devastating for Small, who described Joel and Elizabeth as his two best friends. Joel later admitted feeling deep guilt, calling himself a "homewrecker" and saying he deserved the punch he received. Joel married Weber in 1973; they divorced in 1982.

Despite the rupture, the two eventually reconciled. Small said he came to understand that Joel's remorse stemmed from the depth of their friendship, and he eventually forgave him.

Small later built a successful career as a music video and concert director. He directed Joel's concert films 'Live From Long Island' and 'Live at Shea Stadium', as well as the 'Baby Grand' video. His other credits include videos for Reba McEntire, Enrique Iglesias, Brooks & Dunn, The Highwaymen, Garth Brooks, and Run-DMC's 'Walk This Way' featuring Aerosmith.

Small is survived by his wife of more than 40 years, Jeanine, and their son and daughter.