Jimmy Kimmel introduced on Tuesday, November 11, that his longtime pal and present bandleader Cleto Escobedo III died on the age of 59.
“Early this morning, we misplaced an awesome pal, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” the discuss present host, 57, wrote in a statement shared through Instagram. “To say that we're heartbroken is an understatement.”
Kimmel referred to as working together with his childhood pal on Jimmy Kimmel Reside! “a dream neither of us may ever have imagined would come true.”
He concluded by telling his followers, “Cherish your mates and please maintain Cleto's spouse, kids and oldsters in your prayers.”
Scroll right down to be taught extra about Escobedo:
Jimmy Kimmel and Cleto Escobedo III Have Been Mates for Many years
The comic revealed on Tuesday that he and Cleto Escobedo III have been “inseparable since I used to be 9 years previous.” Jimmy Kimmel and Escobedo grew up in the identical neighborhood as kids in Las Vegas after Kimmel moved there in 1977.
“We started a lifetime of friendship that was highlighted by the form of torture that solely an older brother can inflict on you with out being arrested,” Kimmel joked on Jimmy Kimmel Reside! in 2016 when Escobedo turned 50. He recalled occasions the place Escobedo would put him within the sidecar of his bike and “drive me straight right into a rubbish can” together with different shenanigans.
Escobedo, in the meantime, shared a throwback photo of the pair in November 2018 in honor of Kimmel's birthday. Within the snap, the duo gave the impression to be at a storage sale with two older women.

Cleto Escobedo III and Jimmy Kimmel as youngsters. Courtesy of Cleto Escobedo III/Instagram
Cleto Escobedo III Led the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Reside!' Band
Escobedo's band, Cleto and the Cletones, has been a part of Jimmy Kimmel Reside! because the discuss present's 2003 debut — a imaginative and prescient Kimmel had from the beginning.
“I used to be nervous, as a result of I believed they'd say, ‘We don't need your pal to be the band chief,'” Kimmel informed ABC7 in 2015 of how Escobedo landed the gig. “So, I took the president of ABC [Lloyd Braun] to see him play together with his band, and he liked it.”
Escobedo, in the meantime, knew as soon as Kimmel referred to as in regards to the job that he “needed to be very versatile.” He informed International Musician in 2018 he had to have the ability to “play each form of music and play issues on the fly” to maintain the gig.
Cleto Escobedo III Was a Touring Musician
Previous to working for Kimmel, Escobedo had his personal file deal. He shaped Cleto and the Cletones in 1995 with guitarist Toshi Yangagi, bassist Jimmy Earl, keyboard participant Jeff Babko and drummer Jonathan Dresel. His father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., later joined the group after taking part in saxophone in a Nineteen Sixties rock and soul band.
Escobedo excursions with artists like Earth, Wind and Fireplace, Paula Abdul and Marc Anthony earlier than turning into the bandleader for Reside!
Cleto Escobedo III Is the Father of two
Previous to his loss of life, Escobedo welcomed two kids, daughter Jesse and son Cruz.
“I really like lots of people on this earth, however this little woman modified my life when she got here into this world ten years in the past,” the proud dad wrote via Instagram in Could 2019 on his daughter's birthday. “I by no means REALLY knew what love was ‘until you checked out me. You ARE my world Jesse! Joyful birthday my treasured woman!!!! Joyful tenth birthday!!! Love, Daddy.”
In July 2021, Escobedo shared a tribute to his son, writing via Instagram, “Joyful Birthday to our boy!! We love you a lot!!”
