Billy Joel has announced the passing of Jon Small, a musician who collaborated with the legendary pianist during the early stages of his career. Small and Joel performed together in the 1960s rock band the Hassles before transitioning to the hard rock duo Attila, which released their debut album in 1970. At the time of the announcement, Small’s age and cause of death had not been disclosed.
The friendship between the two musicians faced a significant rupture when Joel developed romantic feelings for Small’s wife, Elizabeth Weber, while living in the couple’s home. This complicated situation ultimately led to the dissolution of Attila and a temporary estrangement between the former bandmates. Joel later married Weber, and their union lasted from 1973 to 1982.
Despite the turmoil surrounding their separation, Small and Joel eventually reconciled their relationship. Small went on to contribute to several of Joel’s professional projects, including work on concert films such as Live From Long Island and Live at Shea Stadium, as well as directing the music video for “Baby Grand.” Beyond his work with Joel, Small established himself as a music video director for prominent artists including Reba McEntire, Enrique Iglesias, and Brooks & Dunn.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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