JIMMY KIMMEL REMEMBERS HIS BEST FRIEND AND BANDLEADER CLETO ESCOBEDO III — “CHERISH YOUR FRIENDS, WE’RE NOT HERE FOREVER”
It was one of the most emotional moments in late-night television history. Fighting back tears, Jimmy Kimmel took to the stage of Jimmy Kimmel Live! to honor his lifelong friend and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, who passed away at the age of 59. For over two decades, Cleto had been not only the heartbeat of Kimmel’s show but also the heart of his personal life — a friend since childhood, a musical genius, and a man whose kindness left an everlasting mark on everyone he met.
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Cleto’s love for music started early, growing up in a family of talented performers. He and Kimmel first met as kids after Jimmy’s family moved from Brooklyn to Nevada in the late 1970s. They lived just a few houses apart and quickly became inseparable — two mischievous boys who would one day take their friendship from the neighborhood streets all the way to Hollywood. “We did everything together,” Kimmel said through tears. “We made prank calls, played basketball, rode bikes, and caused a little trouble. We were kids who never imagined that one day we’d be standing side by side on national television.”
When Jimmy Kimmel Live! premiered in 2003, there was no question who would lead the house band. Cleto Escobedo III — already a respected saxophonist who had toured with Paula Abdul and recorded with some of the biggest names in pop and jazz — was the only choice. “I didn’t want a professional bandleader,” Kimmel said. “I wanted my best friend. Someone who knew me before any of this.”
From that day on, Cleto and his band, Cleto and the Cletones, became an essential part of the show’s identity. His saxophone solos lit up the studio every night, his laughter echoed between commercial breaks, and his easygoing presence grounded the show’s energy. To viewers, he was the quiet musical force behind Kimmel’s comedy. To Jimmy, he was family.
“Cleto wasn’t just my friend,” Kimmel said during his tribute. “He was my brother. He was kind, funny, humble, and full of love. He never let the fame change him — he just wanted everyone to feel good.” At one point in his monologue, Kimmel’s voice broke as he looked toward the bandstand now left empty. “It’s going to be hard walking out here and not seeing him. But I know he’s somewhere laughing right now, probably making fun of me for crying on TV.”
The tribute brought the Jimmy Kimmel Live! audience and crew to tears. Many of Cleto’s colleagues shared that he had been the glue that held the show together — always smiling, always encouraging, and never seeking the spotlight for himself.
In his closing words, Kimmel offered a message that struck a chord far beyond the walls of the studio:
“Cherish your friends. Tell them you love them. Spend time with them. Because one day, you’ll wish you had just one more conversation, one more laugh, one more moment. We’re not here forever.”
Following the broadcast, tributes poured in from fans and fellow musicians who had been touched by Cleto’s warmth and talent. His legacy — one of music, friendship, and humility — will live on not only in the sound of his saxophone but in the laughter and love he left behind.
For Jimmy Kimmel, that legacy is deeply personal. “He made my life better,” he said quietly. “And I’ll miss him for the rest of mine.”
Cleto Escobedo III may have taken his final bow, but his spirit — and his music — will forever play on.