Jon Small is trending because the longtime drummer-turned-director has died and Billy Joel — his old bandmate and one-time rival — posted a short tribute on Instagram that sent fans scrambling for context. News outlets began reporting the death over the weekend, and people are searching for who Jon Small was, how he and Joel are connected, and whether funeral or cause-of-death details are confirmed. (tmz.com)
Small’s career reads like two music histories in one: first as a 1960s rock drummer (The Hassles, then Attila with Billy Joel), then as a prolific music-video and concert-film director/producer for major acts. His passing has pushed older stories about Joel, the bands and a well-documented personal fallout back into headlines — which is why search traffic spiked. (limusichalloffame.org)
At the time of reporting, no official cause of death has been released publicly and widely cited news pieces say the death occurred earlier in the week. Funeral/laying-to-rest details are being shared via social posts and fan communities but are not independently confirmed by major outlets. Treat any early specifics (times/locations) as provisional until a family statement or funeral home confirmation appears. (tmz.com)
Below: the quick facts you came here for, a short timeline of the Joel–Small story, the career credits people want to know about, how the internet is reacting, and what’s still unconfirmed.
What just happened (quick facts)
- Multiple entertainment outlets reported Jon Small’s death over the weekend; media coverage says he died earlier in the week (reports indicate Friday, Sept. 4, 2026). Major outlets including TMZ and a number of music news sites carried the initial notices. (tmz.com)
- Billy Joel posted the short Instagram tribute “RIP Jon Small,” which is the social post that drove renewed attention. News write-ups quote Joel’s Instagram post and include archival photos of the pair. (aol.com)
- No cause of death has been publicly disclosed by family or official spokespeople as of the latest reports. (tmz.com)
The verified backstory: Who was Jon Small?
Jon Small first came up on the Long Island music scene in the 1960s as the drummer for The Hassles, the band that gave Billy Joel one of his earliest breaks. Small and Joel left The Hassles and formed the heavy-organ/drums duo Attila in 1969–1970. Those early years set up both their creative partnership and later personal tensions. (limusichalloffame.org)
After his performance years, Small became a successful producer/director of music videos and concert films. His credits include producing Billy Joel concert films (Live: Long Island, Live at Yankee Stadium, Live at Shea Stadium) and working with a wide range of artists across genres. He was recognized by the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame when The Hassles were inducted in 2025. (allmusic.com)
Timeline and the Billy Joel connection (short and relevant)
- Mid-1960s: Jon Small is active with The Hassles on Long Island; Billy Joel joins the group in 1966. (limusichalloffame.org)
- 1969–1970: Small and Joel form Attila, an organ-and-drums rock duo that released an album in 1970. (en.wikipedia.org)
- 1970s–1980s onward: Personal tensions develop (widely reported: Joel later married Elizabeth Weber, who had been married to Small), creating a years-long rift that nonetheless gave way to later reconciliation and professional collaboration. The fallout and later reconciliation are explored in recent retrospective interviews and the 2025 HBO documentary about Joel. (en.wikipedia.org)
- 1980s–2000s: Small builds a second act as a director/producer of music videos and concert films, earning industry recognition and a Grammy nomination for Live at Yankee Stadium (1992 nomination cited in coverage of his career). (allmusic.com)
- June 2025: The Hassles were inducted into the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame; Small accepted on behalf of the group. (limusichalloffame.org)
What people are searching for — and the verified answers
- Is Jon Small Billy Joel’s old bandmate? Yes. They played together in The Hassles and later Attila, a pairing that’s central to both men’s early careers. (limusichalloffame.org)
- How did Jon Small die? No cause of death has been publicly released; reputable outlets report the death but list cause as “not yet disclosed.” Wait for a family or official statement. (tmz.com)
- Why did Billy Joel and Jon Small have a falling out? That episode — Joel’s affair with Small’s then-wife Elizabeth Weber, subsequent marriage, and the personal fallout — is part of both men’s histories and is revisited on record and in the 2025 Joel documentary; it’s documented but personal, and most reporting avoids sensationalizing it beyond what both men have acknowledged. (whattowatch.com)
- What did Jon Small direct or produce? He’s credited on numerous concert films and music videos, including several Billy Joel concert films (Live: Long Island, Live at Yankee Stadium, Live at Shea), and projects with other major artists. Industry databases list his production and director credits across decades. (allmusic.com)
Reactions and tributes so far
Tributes have come via social media posts and coverage by music and entertainment outlets. Billy Joel’s short Instagram tribute (“RIP Jon Small”) is the center of the current wave of coverage; fan pages, music podcasts and former collaborators have begun sharing memories and archival photos. Trade and music sites are pairing the news with career retrospectives about Small’s shift from drummer to video director. Expect more personal tributes from musicians and industry colleagues as statements and memories are gathered. (aol.com)
What’s still unconfirmed (and what to watch for)
- Cause of death: Not publicly released. If you see an immediate “cause” on social media, check for confirmation from the family, a funeral home, or a reputable news outlet before sharing. (tmz.com)
- Funeral and service specifics: Some fan-run pages and podcast communities (one report cites a Glass Houses podcast Facebook post) have posted a planned Sept. 9 laying-to-rest in Great Neck — that detail appears in regional coverage but hasn’t been corroborated by an official family notice in a national obituary outlet as of this writing. Treat arranging details from social posts as provisional until a funeral home or family statement is published. (geo.tv)
Final note: this moment has bumped Jon Small’s full career back into view — not just the old drama with Billy Joel, but a decades-long role behind the camera shaping some of the music videos and concert films fans still watch. If you’re searching today, you’re likely trying to get that short life-summary and primary sources; stick to established outlets and wait for direct family confirmations for anything beyond the verified career facts and Joel’s Instagram tribute. (allmusic.com)
Sources
https://www.tmz.com/2026/09/07/jon-small-dead/
https://www.aol.com/articles/billy-joel-mourns-death-longtime-190507000.html
https://stereogum.com/2510614/jon-small-drummer-in-early-billy-joel-bands-has-died/news/
https://www.limusichalloffame.org/inductees/the-hassles/
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jon-small-mn0001263359
https://www.geo.tv/latest/681102-billy-joel-mourns-death-of-longtime-collaborator-and-friend-jon-small
https://www.glasshousespod.com/episodes/ep142/
