BB.22 MINUTES OF TEARS – Jimmy Kimmel Trembles Remembering Cleto Escobedo III: The Final Confession Melted the Studio

Jimmy Kimmel spent 22 emotional minutes on Tuesday night sharing his heartbreak with his audience. During the opening monologue of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the late-night host paid tribute to his lifelong friend and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, who passed away earlier that day at the age of 59. It was one of the hardest monologues of his career, Kimmel said, as he spoke openly and tenderly about the man who had been not only his colleague but also one of the most important people in his life.

“We’ve been on the air for almost 23 years, and I’ve had to do some difficult monologues along the way,” Kimmel began, his voice trembling with emotion. “But this one is the hardest, because late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was far too young to go. And I’d like to tell you about him, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Kimmel explained that he first met Escobedo—whom he affectionately called “Junior”—when they were children. After Kimmel’s family moved from Brooklyn, New York, to Las Vegas, they ended up on the same block as the Escobedos, and what began as a neighborhood friendship quickly grew into something closer to brotherhood. “We weren’t just regular friends,” Kimmel recalled. “We became like 24/7 friends. You know, ‘Mom, please let me sleep over, please’ kind of friends. One summer, I slept over at the Escobedo house 33 nights in a row.”

Their childhood was filled with the kind of adventures and mischief that bond kids for life. They played pool, boxed for hours in the backyard, and spent countless nights watching television together. One of their shared obsessions was Late Night with David Letterman, and they dreamed of one day doing something like that. “We both adored Dave and Paul,” Kimmel said, referring to Letterman and his iconic bandleader, Paul Shaffer. “I think that’s where this whole thing started for us, really.”

Escobedo grew up to become a gifted saxophone player, and Kimmel proudly showed a clip from the archives of his friend performing with Paula Abdul. Over the years, Escobedo’s musical talent carried him far—he toured with major artists such as Luis Miguel, Marc Anthony, and Philip Bailey from Earth, Wind & Fire. Yet, despite his success, Escobedo never lost his humility, his humor, or his deep friendship with Kimmel.

When Kimmel was offered the chance to host his own late-night talk show in 2002, he knew instantly who he wanted to lead the band. “Of course, I wanted Cleto,” Kimmel said. “There was never a question. We grew up watching Dave and Paul, and the idea of having anyone other than Cleto leading the band was terrifying.”

That decision gave rise to Cleto and the Cletones, the show’s in-house band, which added warmth and humor to every episode. Escobedo even brought his father, Cleto Escobedo II, into the group—a family affair that reflected the tight-knit community surrounding the show. On Tuesday’s episode, Kimmel noted that Escobedo’s father was present, along with his mother, Sylvia, who had often attended tapings over the years, sitting in the audience quietly saying a rosary while her son played.

The host recalled how surreal it felt to work every day with the same friend he had known since childhood. “Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old,” he said, struggling to hold back tears. “To think that we got to do this together—to work side by side every day—was something neither of us could have dreamed of.”

Earlier in the day, Kimmel had announced the tragic news on social media, writing: “Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician, and man—my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III. To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement.” In the post, he reflected on the depth of their friendship, emphasizing that their shared journey from childhood dreamers in Las Vegas to professional partners on national television was something extraordinary. “The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could have imagined would come true,” he wrote. “Cherish your friends, and please keep Cleto’s wife, children, and parents in your prayers.”

Kimmel’s tribute was raw and heartfelt, not just a eulogy for a friend but a meditation on love, loyalty, and time. His words painted a portrait of a man who was more than a musician—he was a constant, a companion who shaped Kimmel’s life in ways that words could barely capture. As he spoke, there were moments when the comedian’s voice faltered and the audience sat in complete silence, honoring both his grief and the bond that had endured for five decades.

In the world of television, where relationships can be fleeting and transactional, the friendship between Jimmy Kimmel and Cleto Escobedo III was something rare. It was the kind of lifelong connection that transcended fame, success, or circumstance. Their laughter, their music, and their shared memories formed the heart of Jimmy Kimmel Live! for more than two decades.

By the end of his tribute, it was clear that for Kimmel, the show will never be the same without Cleto. He didn’t just lose a bandleader—he lost his brother, his partner in dreams, and the person who had helped make his vision a reality. His parting words to the audience were both a farewell and a reminder: “Hold on to your friends. Tell them you love them. Because you never know how many nights you’ll get to spend together.”