Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to ABC on Monday, November 17, following the death of host Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime friend and the show’s bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III.
Kimmel, 58, welcomed guests including Samuel L. Jackson and comedian Ms. Pat on Monday’s program, which also saw the house band previously known as Cleto and the Cletones billed simply as The Cletones in the show’s opening, per LateNighter.com.
The late night talk show host mourned the death of his childhood friend on the November 11 episode of Live! before taking the rest of last week off.
Escobedo died on November 11 at age 59. According to a death certificate obtained by TMZ on Friday, November 14, Escobedo died from “cardiogenic shock as the immediate cause of death with vasodilatory shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver as the underlying causes.”
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During an emotional opening monologue last Tuesday, Kimmel remembered his friend through tears, noting that he’s “had to do some hard monologues” on his talk show, “but this one’s the hardest, because late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young to go.”
Escobedo was the bandleader of Kimmel’s house band since Jimmy Kimmel Live! premiered in January 2023. His father, Cleto Escobedo Sr., is also part of the band.
“I wanted Cleto to lead my band. … The idea that anyone other than him would lead the band was terrifying. It had to be him,” the comedian said in his tribute. “I was so scared they would say no and I would have to have another band. I had to work up the nerve to bring it up. Because I knew [saying], ‘My best friend from growing up plays the saxophone, he could lead the band,’ wasn’t a great pitch.”
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“Not only did I want Cleto to lead the band, I wanted his dad to be in the band,” Kimmel continued, noting that the Escobedos then auditioned for an ABC executive who quickly signed off on hiring them. “We’ve been working together every day for almost 23 years now,” Kimmel said.
“I’ve always said the single best thing about doing this show was getting the opportunity to allow Cleto Sr. to pick up where he left off in 1966 and become a musician again, with his son,” Kimmel said. “Cleto Sr. and his mom, Sylvia, have been like my second parents since I was in the 4th grade. I’ve known them 47 years and these people have never once yelled at me. Not one time. They are the best people.”
“It’s just not fair,” Kimmel said. “He was the nicest, most humble, kind and always funny person,” he added.
Kimmel announced Escobedo’s death in an Instagram post earlier on November 11.
“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” he wrote. “To 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’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”
