Jon Small, Billy Joel collaborator and music video director, dies

Jon Small, the music video director, producer and longtime collaborator of Billy Joel, has died.

Joel confirmed Small's death in a brief Instagram post. "RIP Jon Small," the hitmaker wrote, alongside an early photo of the pair and one more recent.

A rep for Small could not be reached for comment.

Joel and Small were best friends and early bandmates in the rock band the Hassles, before leaving and forming the duo Attila in 1969, releasing their first and only album, "Attila," in 1970. Small, in the documentary "Billy Joel: And So It Goes," called the group "probably one of the worst bands ever."

In 1970, during a career decline and personal low for Joel, the "Piano Man" singer lived with Small and his wife, Elizabeth Weber Small. Joel would eventually begin an affair with Weber Small, and after it was discovered, Attila disbanded, and Joel was kicked out.

"I got punched in the nose, which is what I deserved," Joel said in his documentary.

Though she would eventually end both relationships, Joel and Weber later reconciled and married in 1973. They divorced in 1982.

Despite their estrangement, Joel credited Small for rushing him to the hospital following a suicide…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/