A number of stars shared tributes to Jimmy Kimmel's longtime pal and Jimmy Kimmel Reside! bandleader Cleo Escobedo III following his demise at age 59.
Kimmel took to Instagram on Tuesday, November 11, to disclose that Escobedo had died.
“Early this morning, we misplaced an excellent pal, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” he wrote. “To say that we're heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I've been inseparable since I used to be 9 years previous. The truth that we started working collectively each day is a dream neither of us might ever have imagined would come true. Cherish your mates and please hold Cleto's spouse, kids and oldsters in your prayers.”
That evening, Kimmel devoted an emotional monologue to the late musician on Jimmy Kimmel Reside!
“It's simply not honest,” the speak present host shared. “He was the nicest, most humble, type and all the time humorous individual.”
Hold scrolling to see extra celebrities who've reacted to Escobedo's tragic demise:
Jimmy Kimmel
Throughout an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Reside!, Kimmel devoted a monologue to his shut pal, noting that he's “needed to do some exhausting monologues” through the years, “however this one's the toughest, as a result of late final evening, early this morning, we misplaced somebody very particular who was a lot too younger to go.”
“There was a boy who lived on my block,” Kimmel recalled of when he met Escobedo at age 9 after shifting from Brooklyn to Las Vegas. “He was just a little bit older than me. He was a yr older than me. His identify was Cleto.”
Kimmel mentioned they grew to become quick mates — and “not simply common mates.”
“We grew to become 24/7 ‘Mother please let me sleep over please' type of mates,” he gushed. “One summer season I slept over on the Escobedo home 33 nights in a row, for actual. My mom used to make me get down on my knees and beg to sleep at his home in entrance of him, and I'd gladly do it, ‘trigger we had been by no means bored.”
When Kimmel landed his personal ABC speak present in 2002, Escobedo grew to become the chief of Kimmel's home band, Cleto and the Cleotones.
“I wished Cleo to guide my band,” Kimmel shared. “The concept that anybody apart from him would lead the band was terrifying. It needed to be him. I used to be so scared they might say no and I must have one other band. I needed to work up the nerve to convey it up. As a result of I knew [saying], ‘My finest pal from rising up performs the saxophone, he may lead the band,' wasn't an excellent pitch.”
Kimmel went on to honor Escobedo's widow, Lori, and their two kids earlier than saying that his demise was “simply not honest.”
“He was the nicest, most humble, type and all the time humorous individual,” he famous, thanking the hospital workers who took care of Escobedo within the closing months of his life. “Cherish your mates. We're not right here without end.”
Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul Randy Shropshire/Getty Pictures for MPTF
“My coronary heart is heavy immediately as we are saying goodbye to the unbelievable Cleto Escobedo II. 💔,” Paula Abdul wrote by way of Instagram on November 11, sharing a video of herself and Escobedo on tour. “I first met Cleto when he was taking part in sax in a small bar at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.”
The “Ceaselessly Your Lady” singer went on to say that she knew she “needed to rent” Escobedo for her band “the second” she heard him play, “despite the fact that he didn't have any touring expertise but.”
“His expertise and vitality had been plain, and he went on to have an incredible profession, reuniting together with his finest pal Jimmy Kimmel because the bandleader on Jimmy Kimmel Reside!” she shared. “Cleto was pure mild and soul, each on and off stage. Sending a lot like to his household and everybody who cherished him ❣️🎷.”
Sheila E.
“With a heavy coronary heart we now have misplaced a pricey pal Cleto Escobedo,” Sheila E. wrote by way of Instagram on November 11. “I met Cleto in 1994 and in 1995 I produced a track on his album. We all the time joked about being associated and we did attempt to discover out. He has been a real brother and an incredible musician and artist. I'm so heartbroken 💔there aren't any phrases. My prayers exit to his spouse and children, Jimmy Kimmel, household and mates. You'll be missed. I like u 🙏🏽🌹🙏🏽relaxation nicely 🕊️🙏🏽.”
Adam Scott

Adam Scott Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Pictures for WSJ. Journal Innovators Awards
“RIP the nice Cleto Escobedo III,” Adam Scott wrote by way of Instagram on November 11. “Such a sort, gifted man who will likely be sorely missed. A lot of like to Cleto's household and everybody at @jimmykimmellive 💔.”
Eric Stonestreet
“So sorry to listen to this Jimmy,” Eric Stonestreet wrote beneath Kimmel's Instagram tribute. “He was AWESOME. Like to his household.”
Johnny Knoxville

Johnny Knoxville Kevin Winter/Getty Pictures for Critics Selection Affiliation
“❤️❤️❤️like to u, cleto and his entire household,” Johnny Knoxville wrote beneath Kimmel's Instagram put up.
John Stamos
The Full Home actor reshared Sheila E.'s put up to his Instagram Story, writing, “Heartbreaking.”
Wanda Skyes

Wanda Sykes Maya Dehlin Spach/Getty Pictures
“Heartbreaking,” Wanda Skyes commented under Kimmel's tribute on Instagram. “So, very sorry. ❤️🙏🏾.”
Jeffrey Ross
“Love you Like to his unbelievable household,” Jeffrey Ross shared beneath Kimmel's Instagram put up.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus VALERIE MACON / AFP
“Oh no,” Julia Louis-Dreyfus commented on Kimmel's Instagram put up. “I'm so so sorry. ❤️.”
Ike Barinholtz
“So sorry man,” Ike Barinholtz wrote by way of Instagram beneath Kimmel's Instagram tribute. “Love you Cleto❤️.”
Jaime Camil

Jaime Camil Emma McIntyre/Getty Pictures
“Jimmy, your monologue yesterday was lovely and touching,” Jaime Camil wrote under Kimmel's Instagram put up. “Our coronary heart goes out to you and your family members 🙏 ❤️.”
Olivia Munn
“💔💔💔💔,” Olivia Munn shared beneath Kimmel's put up.
Howie Mandel

Howie Mandel Frazer Harrison/Getty Pictures
“So sorry 💔,” Howie Mandel wrote on Kimmel's Instagram put up.
Jim Jeffries
“One of many biggest guys,” Jim Jeffries commented on Kimmel's account. “So sorry for his family and friends.”
Kaitlin Olson

Kaitlin Olson Jon Kopaloff/Getty Pictures for Go Marketing campaign
“I'm so sorry 💔,” Kaitlin Olson wrote beneath Kimmel's put up.
Scott Wolf
“💔❤️,” Scott Wolf commented.
