Jimmy Kimmel Mourns Best Friend, Bandleader Cleto Escobedo III
Tonight, Jimmy Kimmel opened his show with an emotional monologue, honoring his longtime best friend and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, who passed away Tuesday morning at the age of 59. Fighting back tears, Kimmel admitted that after hosting nearly 23 years of the show, this was by far the hardest monologue he had ever delivered. “Early this morning, we lost someone very special, who was much too young to go,” he said, as he shared memories of the man he considered more than just a friend.
Cleto, often called “Junior,” had been the saxophonist and leader of the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” house band, Cleto and the Cletones, which he led alongside his father, Cleto Escobedo Sr. His father, a talented saxophonist himself, had paused his own musical career in 1966 to focus on family, a sacrifice that shaped Junior’s upbringing and musical path.
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Kimmel recounted their lifelong friendship, which began in 1977 in the suburbs of Las Vegas, after both families relocated from Brooklyn. “Not just regular friends either,” Kimmel said. “We became like 24/7, 'Mom, please, let me sleep over' kind of friends. One summer, I slept over at the Escobedo house 33 nights in a row… we were never bored.” From playing baseball and dressing up as cowboys to boxing and navigating adolescence together, the two boys were inseparable, eventually standing as best men at each other’s weddings.
Cleto’s professional life was equally remarkable. He toured with Paula Abdul, recorded studio albums, and performed with stars like Luis Miguel and Marc Anthony before becoming the musical anchor of Kimmel’s late-night show. In 2002, when Kimmel’s show was being launched, he insisted that no one else could lead the band but Cleto. During the audition with ABC executives, Cleto and his father played “Pick Up the Pieces” by Average White Band, impressing everyone and sealing their roles. That partnership lasted nearly 23 years, creating a unique bond and a shared musical language that few could understand.
In his heartfelt monologue, Kimmel expressed gratitude to the doctors and nurses at UCLA Medical Center and Sherman Oaks Hospital, who cared for Cleto in his final months. He also thanked family and friends who supported Cleto and his loved ones through this difficult time. “Always cherish your friends,” Kimmel urged the audience. “We're not here forever.”
Known for his warmth, humility, and infectious humor, Cleto Escobedo III left a lasting mark on everyone who knew him. As Kimmel signed off, he reminded viewers of the importance of friendship, reflecting a bond that spanned nearly five decades, from neighborhood pranks in Las Vegas to center stage on late-night television. Cleto’s legacy as a musician, friend, and beloved presence will be deeply missed.
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