11:33 am - November 18, 2025
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Jimmy Kimmel‘s sis, Jill Kimmel, shared a wholehearted homage to Jimmy Kimmel Live! bandleader Cleto Escobedo III following his death.
” I keep forgetting that you have actually carried on from here … however I’ll always remember just how much I enjoyed you,” Jill, 55, composed by means of Instagram on Sunday, November 16, together with a breeze from what seemed Escobedo’s memorial. “It’s been a gorgeous life with you in it, Cleto. Rest well, my bro.”
Jimmy, 58, exposed recently that Escobedo, who was a youth buddy of his, passed away at the age of 59. Escobedo has actually been the leader of the late-night program’s band, Cleto and the Cletones, because its 2003 best.
” Early today, we lost a terrific buddy, daddy, child, artist and guy, my long time bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” the late-night host composed by means of Instagram on November 11. “To state that we are sad is an understatement. Cleto and I have actually been inseparable because I was 9 years of ages. The reality that we got to interact every day is a dream neither people might ever have actually thought of would become a reality. Value your pals and please keep Cleto’s better half, kids and moms and dads in your prayers.”
A number of stars shared homages to Jimmy Kimmel’s long time buddy and Jimmy Kimmel Live! bandleader Cleo Escobedo III following his death at age 59. Kimmel required to Instagram on Tuesday, November 11, to expose that Escobedo had actually passed away. “Early today, we lost a terrific buddy, daddy, child, artist and guy, my long time bandleader Cleto Escobedo […]
Escobedo’s cause of death was later on exposed to be “cardiogenic shock … with vasodilatory shock, shared intravascular coagulation and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver as the underlying causes,” per his death certificate gotten by TMZ.
After sharing the news of Escobedo’s death, Jimmy commemorated his late buddy in a psychological monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
” There was a kid who resided on my block. … He was a bit older than me. He was a year older than me. His name was Cleto,” Jimmy stated on November 11 while resisting tears. “Ultimately we fulfilled. We ended up being pals– and not simply routine pals. We ended up being 24/7 ‘Mama, please let me sleep over, please’ sort of pals. One summertime I slept over at the Escobedo home 33 nights in a row, genuine. My mom utilized to make me come down on my knees and ask to sleep at his home in front of him, and I would happily do it, ’cause we were never ever tired.”
Jimmy shared that his and Escobedo’s relationship continued through the adult years. When he was used the chance to host his own late-night program, Jimmy desired Escobedo by his side.
” I desired Cleto to lead my band. … The concept that anybody besides him would lead the band was scary. It needed to be him,” he stated. “I was so frightened they would state no and I would need to have another band. I needed to develop the nerve to bring it up. Since I understood [saying], ‘My buddy from maturing plays the saxophone, he might lead the band’ wasn’t a terrific pitch.”
In addition to having Cleto, Jimmy induced his buddy’s daddy, Cleto Escobedo Sr.
” Not just did I desire Cleto to lead the band, I desired his daddy to be in the band,” Kimmel continued, keeping in mind that Cleto and his daddy auditioned for an ABC executive before formally landing the gig. “We have actually been collaborating every day for practically 23 years now.”
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