Cleto Escobedo III died at the age of 59. Saxophonist and childhood friend Jimmy Kimmel headed Jimmy Kimmel Live! band Cleto and the Cletones since its inception in 2003.
Cleto Valentine Escobedo III was born on August 23, 1966 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The talented saxophonist began playing at the age of 11 with his father, a longtime tenor saxophonist.
Around the same time, Kimmel's family moved to the Escobedo area of Vegas, beginning their 47-year friendship. They spent their childhood playing baseball, camping and watching. The Late Show with David Letterman.
When Kimmel received news from ABC about his own late-night show, he knew his childhood friend was the one he wanted to lead his group and pitched the idea to ABC executives by showing them Escobedo's live performance. The radio station was captivated by his talent and the couple's friendship, as well as the fact that Escobedo's father also played in the band. The father-son duo performed as part of the late-night show's band for 23 years.
The host shared the news of his longtime friend's passing on Instagram, stating: “Early this morning we lost a good friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime band leader Cleto Escobedo III. To say we are heartbroken is an understatement. 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 have ever imagined. Appreciate your friends and please pray for Cleto's wife, children and parents.”
Escobedo's cause of death is currently unknown, although Kimmel, in his tearful tribute and monologue on last night's show, thanked the doctors and nurses at UCLA Medical Center for caring for his best friend.
