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Billy Joel Pays Tribute to Longtime Collaborator Jon Small
Confirmed
In Short: Billy Joel honored his friend and former bandmate Jon Small after his death, sharing a photo and a poignant message on social media.
Billy Joel paid tribute to his longtime collaborator and former bandmate Jon Small after the drummer's passing on September 4, according to reports. In a Facebook post, Joel captioned a photo with a throwback and a recent image of the two, simply writing, 'RIP Jon Small.
The relationship between Joel and Small dates back to the 1960s, when Small recruited Joel into his band, the Hassles. Their friendship took a significant turn in the 1970s when Joel fell for Small's wife, Elizabeth Weber, leading to a complex personal and professional relationship. Despite the challenges, they remained close, with Small producing Joel's music videos in the 1980s.
In a 2025 documentary, And So It Goes, Small reflected on their early days together, saying, 'We were like a pig in a blanket.' Joel's recent post on social media also referenced Small's role in helping him find his 'river of dreams' at the start of his music career, highlighting the significant impact Small had on Joel's journey.
Joel did not share many details about Small's death, but his tribute underscores the deep bond between the two musicians, who had a complex history marked by both collaboration and personal drama.
What's still developing
- In a Facebook post, Glass Houses, a podcast dedicated to Joel’s life and work, revealed that Small died on Sept. 4.
- Joel and Weber wound up tying the knot in 1973, and divorcing nine years later.
- The ’80s saw the two men reconnect, with Small serving as producer for Joel’s “Uptown Girl” and “Keeping the Faith” music videos.
- "Billy one day came up to me, became a little honest, and said to me, 'I'm in love with your wife,'" he continued.
- "He never really said anything to me," Small admitted.
- 7 Instagram post, "RIP Jon Small." Small helped the "Vienna" singer find his river of dreams at the start of his music career by recruiting him into The Hassles, which they rocked out in from 1964 until they left to form Attila in 1969.