By Harshit
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 12, 2025 — 4 AM EDT
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel returned to his stage Monday night with tears, laughter, and stories that spanned nearly five decades, as he paid tribute to his longtime bandleader and best friend, Cleto Escobedo III, who died at the age of 59.
Escobedo, who led Jimmy Kimmel Live!’s house band since the show’s inception in 2003, was not only a gifted musician but also Kimmel’s childhood neighbor and closest friend. “Cleto wasn’t just a bandleader — he was my brother,” Kimmel said during his emotional monologue. “We grew up together, got in trouble together, and then somehow, we got to work together for 23 years.”
A Friendship That Began in Childhood
Kimmel recounted how their friendship started in Las Vegas in the 1970s, when the two lived on the same street. They bonded over shared mischief and humor that would later define their on-screen chemistry. “Cleto taught me all the dirty stuff,” Kimmel said, laughing through his tears. “We’d sneak into novelty shops, and he’d come out with pockets full of ridiculous stuff — rubber penises, fake puke, you name it.”
He went on to describe Escobedo as a friend who shared his passions: “We loved all the same things — baseball, fishing, boxing, Ali, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Woody Allen, Stevie Wonder, and most of all, David Letterman. We laughed so hard we created our own language.”
A Music Legacy Born from Family
Escobedo was the son of Cleto Escobedo Jr., a talented musician who had set aside his career to raise a family. His son later carried that musical dream forward, touring with Paula Abdul and earning a record deal. When that project didn’t take off, Escobedo returned home, playing in clubs around Los Angeles — until Kimmel came calling.
“When I got this talk show in 2002, I knew I needed three things — a desk, an announcer, and a Guillermo,” Kimmel said. “But I also knew I needed Cleto.” He added that he insisted on including Escobedo’s father, too: “The network thought it was crazy — hiring my best friend from grade school and his dad to play sax. But it had to be them.”
The duo auditioned together and immediately won over executives. “We’ve been working together almost every day for 23 years now,” Kimmel reflected. “The best part of all this has been watching Cleto Sr. get a second chance to do what he loves — with his son.”
A Family Beyond the Studio
Kimmel’s voice broke as he addressed Escobedo’s family directly. “His parents, Cleto Sr. and Sylvia, have been like second parents to me for 47 years,” Kimmel said, looking into the audience where they sat. “They’ve never once yelled at me — not one time.”
He then turned his message to Escobedo’s wife, Lori, and children, Jessie and Cruz. “I hope as they grow up, I can remind them how much their dad loved them. Because it’s a lot,” he said, pausing as his eyes filled with tears.
Remembering the Laughter
Despite the heavy tone, Kimmel made sure to include some levity — something Escobedo himself would have demanded. He told stories of how the saxophonist loved to make the crew laugh, often by pulling pranks or “mooning” people on set. “He’d still pull his pants down as a joke, even here, right in front of the camera,” Kimmel recalled with a smile. “That was Cleto. If he could make you laugh, that’s what he wanted to do.”
Kimmel also thanked the doctors and nurses at UCLA Health who cared for Escobedo in recent months. “They took incredibly good care of him,” Kimmel said, without revealing Escobedo’s cause of death. “And thank you to all the friends and family who have been there through these awful few months.”
A Legacy of Music and Joy
Escobedo’s music career spanned decades, and his work with Jimmy Kimmel Live! made him one of late-night television’s most recognizable bandleaders. Known for his signature saxophone sound and vibrant personality, he helped define the show’s energy and rhythm for over two decades.
Kimmel closed his tribute by playing a highlight reel of Escobedo’s performances — from his first appearance on the show to his most recent. The studio audience rose for a standing ovation as Kimmel whispered through tears, “There’s never been a friend like him.”