Jon Small, Billy Joel’s former bandmate and longtime best friend, has died, bringing an end to a decades-long connection between the pair.
Small died on Friday, September 4, according to a death announcement shared by a longtime friend. His funeral is due to take place on Wednesday, September 9, in Great Neck, New York. No cause of death has been announced. ([stereogum.com](https://stereogum.com/2510614/jon-small-drummer-in-early-billy-joel-bands-has-died/news?utm_source=openai))
Small and Joel first played together in the 1960s as members of the New York band The Hassles, which released two albums. They later formed the hard-rock duo Attila, with Small on drums and Joel on keyboards and vocals. ([stereogum.com](https://stereogum.com/2510614/jon-small-drummer-in-early-billy-joel-bands-has-died/news?utm_source=openai))
Small went on to build a successful career as a music-video and concert-film director, working with artists including Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Run-DMC and Aerosmith. His death was announced by Joel on social media, according to reports.
