{"id":373352,"date":"2025-11-12T06:54:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T06:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/373352\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T06:54:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T06:54:11","slug":"jimmy-kimmel-breaks-down-honoring-late-bandleader-cleto-escobedo-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/373352\/","title":{"rendered":"Jimmy Kimmel Breaks Down Honoring Late Bandleader Cleto Escobedo III"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tJimmy Kimmel<\/a> opened Tuesday\u2019s episode of \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!<\/a>\u201d with a heartfelt tribute to his childhood friend and late-night bandleader Cleto Escobedo III<\/a>, who died Tuesday at 59<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe\u2019ve been on the air for almost 23 years, and I\u2019ve had to do some hard monologues along the way,\u201d Kimmel said, crying. \u201cBut this one\u2019s the hardest because late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young to go, and I\u2019d like to tell you about him. If you don\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAs Kimmel recalled his lifelong friendship with Escobedo, photos from their childhood together in Las Vegas appeared on screen. Escobedo\u2019s father, who is in Kimmel\u2019s band, and mother were in attendance Tuesday night. They were visibly moved by the tribute. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThere was a boy who lived on my block. He lived across the street and two houses over. He was a little over a year older than me. His name was Cleto, but we all called him junior,\u201d Kimmel explained. \u201cEventually, we met and became friends. And not just regular friends. We became 24\/7, \u2018Mom, please let me sleep over, please,\u2019 kind of friends. One summer, I slept over at the Escobedo house 33 nights in a row. My mother used to make me get down on my knees and beg to sleep at his house in front of him. And I would gladly do it, because we were never bored. We were always up to something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tKimmel remembered his lifelong companion through stories of childhood mischief before explaining how he brought Escobedo on to \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d Kimmel said Escobedo was his first choice to lead his band after landing the show in 2003, although he admitted his pitch of, \u201c\u2018My best friend from growing up plays the saxophone, he could lead the band,\u2019 didn\u2019t sound good.\u201d Despite his reservations, Escobedo and his dad nailed the audition. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThey played \u2018Pick Up the Pieces\u2019 by the Average White Band,\u201d Kimmel remembered. \u201cLloyd saw it. He saw the father and son. He said, \u2018I love it!\u2019 And he got up and left. And we\u2019ve been working together every day for almost 23 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tKimmel later added, \u201cEveryone here at the show we are devastated by this. It\u2019s just not fair. He was the nicest, most humble, kind and always funny person.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tKimmel concluded by thanking the audience. He also noted that \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d will take \u201cthe next couple of nights off\u201d in the wake of Escobedo\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

\n\tKimmel had to abruptly cancel Thursday\u2019s episode in order to tend to Escobedo as the musician\u2019s condition had turned worse. The host shared the news of Escobedo\u2019s death on Instagram<\/a>, writing, \u201cTo say that 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 ever have imagined would come true. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto\u2019s wife, children and parents in your prayers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThis week\u2019s \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d episodes have been touted as 80s-themed; Tuesday\u2019s episode of \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d included Eddie Murphy, Morgan Fairchild and musical guest Men At Work.<\/p>\n

\n\tThat isn\u2019t the first time Kimmel has taken a personal day; perhaps most notable, he took time off as his young son Billy underwent treatment for a heart defect, which required multiple surgeries. (Billy is now said to be doing well and fully recovered.)<\/p>\n

\n\tKimmel is known for his close loyalty to friends and family \u2014 many of whom he employs on the show \u2014 and given that the situation involved one of his best friends, it\u2019s no surprise that he put them first and opted to pause the Thursday show.<\/p>\n

\n\tWatch Kimmel\u2019s entire tribute below. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n