Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Tuesday paid tribute to his lifelong friend and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, who died earlier in the day.
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He was 59.
“We’ve been on the air for almost 23 years, and I’ve had to do some hard monologues along the way,” Kimmel said as he fought his way through tears. “But this one’s the hardest.”
Kimmel said the two had been friends for 47 years, and shared stories of growing up together, from their youthful hijinks to becoming TV colleagues.
“Cleto was the leader growing up. I was the sidekick; he was the star,” Kimmel said. “Cleto played saxophone; I played clarinet. That’s kind of all you need to know about us.”
Kimmel called Escobedo a “phenomenal” sax player from a young age, with a musician father ― Cleto Escobedo Sr. ― who gave up his own career in the industry to stay home with his family.
When Kimmel was hired by ABC for Jimmy Kimmel Live, he not only hired his friend to lead the band, but his friend’s father as well.
“I’ve often said that the single best thing about doing this show was getting the opportunity to allow Cleto Senior to pick up where he left off in 1966 and become a musician again with his son,” Kimmel said.
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