Cleto Escobedo III, bandleader of Cleto and the Cletones, house band “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” died. The musician and longtime friend of Kimmel was 59 years old.
Kimmel confirmed Escobedo's death early Tuesday morning. Instagram post later that day, writing that “we have lost a good friend, father, son, musician and human being.”
“To say we are heartbroken is an understatement,” Kimmel continued. “Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old. The fact that we get to work together every day is a dream neither of us could have ever imagined. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto's wife, children and parents in your prayers.”
News of Escobedo's death came after “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was abruptly canceled on Thursday, reportedly due to “private matter”. Escobedo's cause of death was not immediately released.
Escobedo has led the band on the late-night show since its premiere in 2003, playing alongside a group of musicians that included his father, Cleto Escobedo Jr.
Escobedo was an accomplished professional musician who toured with Philip Bailey and Paula Abdul of Earth, Wind and Fire and recorded with Marc Anthony, Tom Scott and Take Six. When Kimmel got his own late-night talk show on ABC in 2003, he insisted Escobedo front the house band, he said. VABK in 2015.
“Of course I wanted great musicians, but I wanted someone with whom I had chemistry,” Kimmel told the publication. “And there’s no one in my life that I have better chemistry with than him.”
In an August 2016 episode, Kimmel wished Escobedo a happy 50th birthday and highlighted his longtime relationship with the musician. They met in 1977 when Kimmel's family moved across the street from Escobedo's in Las Vegas. “We began a long friendship that was punctuated by the kind of torture that only a big brother can inflict on you without getting arrested,” Kimmel said, before sharing a series of stories about their brotherly bond and Escobedo's antics.
“I can't wait for your kids to be 12 and see this and find out that their dad is secretly a maniac,” Kimmel said. The host also shared photos of them as children, including Escobedo playing the saxophone and Kimmel playing the clarinet.
In addition to his father and other family members, Escobedo is survived by his wife, Laurie, and two children.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
