Jimmy Kimmel’s childhood friend and bandleader Cleto Escobedo III passes away at 59

Jimmy Kimmel pays tribute to his friend

Musician Cleto Escobedo III passed away at age 59. He was Jimmy Kimmel’s childhood friend and longtime bandleader of Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Jimmy announced the news of Cleto’s death on his social media on Tuesday afternoon. He took to his Instagram and shared a picture of Cleto with a heartfelt tribute. However, Cleto’s cause of death was not revealed.

Jimmy wrote, “Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III. To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement.”

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He added, “Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”

Singer and dancer Paula Abdul also paid tribute to the late musician. She shared a video from their tour and wrote, “My heart is heavy today as we say goodbye to the incredible Cleto Escobedo III. I first met Cleto when he was playing sax in a small bar at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.”

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“She added, “I was putting together my band for my first world tour and the moment I heard him, I knew I had to hire him, even though he didn’t have any touring experience yet. His talent and energy were undeniable, and he went on to have an amazing career, reuniting with his best friend Jimmy Kimmel as the bandleader on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Cleto was pure light and soul, both on and off stage. Sending so much love to his family and everyone who loved him.”

Cleto Escobedo III’s death came soon after Entertainment Weekly reported that a "personal matter" involving the host was the reason behind the postponement of the Nov. 6 episode, which was abruptly replaced with a rerun.

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About Cleto Escobedo III

Cleto Escobedo III grew up in Las Vegas and was a neighbour of Jimmy. The host and the comedian fought hard for his musician best friend to get a spot on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Since the show's debut in 2003, Cleto has served as the lead for Cleto and the Cletones, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! house band. Escobedo occasionally sang in addition to playing the alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones.