Billy Joel's Pivotal Early Collaborators

Before his solo stardom, Billy Joel's formative years were shaped by key bandmates who influenced his sound and career trajectory.

The top 3

Jon Small's Foundational Role in The Hassles and Attila: Jon Small was Billy Joel's drummer and close friend in early bands like The Hassles, a psychedelic rock and soul group that released two albums, and later the hard rock duo Attila, which put out one self-titled album in 1970.
Liberty DeVitto: Billy Joel's Longest-Serving Drummer: Liberty DeVitto was Billy Joel's drummer for 30 years, from 1976 to 2004, playing on 13 platinum albums and more than 22 Top 40 hits, including iconic tracks like 'Only the Good Die Young' and 'Just the Way You Are'.
Key Musicians Shaping Joel's Classic Sound: The classic Billy Joel band from 1976 onwards included Liberty DeVitto on drums, Richie Cannata on saxophones and organ, Russell Javors and Howie Emerson on guitars, and Doug Stegmeyer on bass, forming the core sound of his most successful period.