Jimmy Kimmel Breaks Down in Tears Throughout On-Air ‘Live’ Homage to Late Bandleader Cleto Escobedo III: ‘It’s Simply Unfair’

Jimmy Kimmel broke down in tears throughout a psychological homage to his long time pal and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III

Kimmel, 57, opened the Tuesday, November 11, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! by keeping in mind Escobedo, who passed away early Tuesday early morning at age 59, and was conquered with feeling as he attempted to make it through his monologue.

The late-night talk program host said he’s “needed to do some tough monologues” throughout the last 23 years, “however this one’s the hardest, due to the fact that late last night, early today, we lost somebody really unique who was much too young to go.”

Kimmel then broke down his history with Escobedo, whom he initially satisfied when he was 9 years of ages upon moving from Brooklyn, New York City, to Las Vegas.

Related: Who Is Cleto Escobedo? What to Understand About Jimmy Kimmel’s Late Good friend

Jimmy Kimmel revealed on Tuesday, November 11, that his long time pal and reveal bandleader Cleto Escobedo III passed away at the age of 59. “Early today, we lost a terrific pal, daddy, boy, artist and male, my long time bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” the talk program host, 57, composed in a declaration shared through Instagram. “To […]

” There was a young boy who resided on my block. … He was a bit older than me. He was a year older than me. His name was Cleto,” Kimmel stated as he resisted tears.

” Ultimately we satisfied. We ended up being buddies– and not simply routine buddies. We ended up being 24/7 ‘Mom-please-let-me-sleep-over-please’ sort of buddies. One summer season I slept over at the Escobedo home 33 nights in a row, genuine,” he stated. “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.”

Kimmel explained his youth bond with Escobedo, consisting of boxing, prank-calling next-door neighbors and attempting to sneakily enjoy Betamax videos and HBO to “see naked individuals,” he quipped.

As they matured, Kimmel stated, Escobedo, like his daddy– Cleto Escobedo Sr.— ended up being an artist and ultimately explored with Paula Abdul, signed a record handle the previous American Idol judge and launched an album.

However it was when Kimmel landed his own ABC talk program in September 2002 that the long-lasting buddies ended up being work associates. Escobedo has actually been the bandleader of Kimmel’s home band, Cleto and the Cletones, considering that Jimmy Kimmel Live! premiered in January 2003.

” I desired Cleto to lead my band. … The concept that anybody aside from him would lead the band was frightening. It needed to be him,” the comic stated. “I was so terrified 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.”

” Not just did I desire Cleto to lead the band, I desired his father to be in the band,” Kimmel continued, keeping in mind that Cleto and his daddy auditioned for an ABC executive and the rest is history. “We have actually been interacting every day for nearly 23 years now,” Kimmel stated.

” I have actually constantly stated the single finest aspect of doing this program was getting the chance to permit Cleto Sr. to get where he ended in 1966 and end up being an artist once again, with his boy,” Kimmel stated while wrecking. “Cleto Sr. and his mama, Sylvia, have actually resembled my 2nd moms and dads considering that I remained in the fourth grade. I have actually understood them 47 years and these individuals have never ever as soon as chewed out me. Not one time. They are the very best individuals.”

Kimmel commemorated Escobedo’s widow, Lori, and their 2 kids, including that everybody at the program is “ravaged” by the news of his death.

” It’s simply unfair,” he stated. “He was the best, most simple, kind and constantly amusing individual,” he included.

Kimmel thanked the medical facility personnel who looked after Escobedo in the last months of his life due to an undefined disease, and extended his well-wishes to his household.

He concluded, “Value your buddies. We’re not here permanently.”

Kimmel kept in mind that after Tuesday’s program, he would be taking a “number of nights off” from Jimmy Kimmel Live! as the cast and team grieve the program’s bandleader.

Kimmel revealed Escobedo’s death in an Instagram post previously on Tuesday. “Early today, we lost a terrific pal, daddy, boy, artist and male, my long time bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” he composed. “To state that we are sad is an understatement. Cleto and I have actually been inseparable considering that 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 buddies and please keep Cleto’s better half, kids and moms and dads in your prayers.”