>>>Cleto Escobedo III, longtime bandleader of the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" show, has died, Jimmy Kimmel announced on Tuesday. He was 59 years old.

The late-night talk show host mourned the death of one of his oldest friends — whom he met when he was 9 years old — writing on Instagram that "[t]o say that we are heartbroken is an understatement."<<<

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cleto-escobedo-iii-jimmy-kimmel-bandleader-dies-59/

https://www.thedailybeast.com/jimmy-kimmel-taking-time-off-after-delivering-emotional-tribute-to-band-leader/

Jimmy Kimmel breaks down in tears (https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/jimmy-kimmel-tears-tribute-bandleader-cleto-escobedo-1236574154/) as he honors (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xlVAr6JZ9A) late bandleader and friend Cleto Escobedo III (https://latenighter.com/news/cleto-escobedo-iii-jimmy-kimmels-bandleader-dies-at-59/) in emotional monologue (google.com/search?q=Jimmy+Kimmel+delivers+an+emotional+tribute+to+Cleto+Escobedo+III+&sca_esv=1d3581c3a6bf1444&sxsrf=AE3TifPv9RgWNLkWvB0o6iPl5H0aLbtrnw%3A1762936304430&ei=8EUUaYyEGpKq6-APuq-XmAQ&ved=0ahUKEwiMvL_BmeyQAxUS1RoGHbrXBUMQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=Jimmy+Kimmel+delivers+an+emotional+tribute+to+Cleto+Escobedo+III+&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiQUppbW15IEtpbW1lbCBkZWxpdmVycyBhbiBlbW90aW9uYWwgdHJpYnV0ZSB0byBDbGV0byBFc2NvYmVkbyBJSUkgSIEJUO0EWO0EcAF4AZABAJgBsgGgAbIBqgEDMC4xuAEDyAEA-AEB-AECmAIBoAIsqAIQwgINECMYgAQYJxiKBRjqAsICBxAjGCcY6gLCAhQQABiABBiRAhi0AhiKBRjqAtgBAcICFBAuGIAEGJECGLQCGIoFGOoC2AEBmAMs8QUjt89n9H924LoGBggBEAEYAZIHATGgB3WyBwC4BwDCBwM0LTHIByE&sclient=gws-wiz-serp): 'It's just not fair!'

RIP Cleto. He had been there since day one. I noticed he hadn't been on the show the last several months.

It was a beautiful heartfelt tribute to his best friend. They were lucky to have known each other for almost 50 years. It's understandable he's taking the rest of the week off.

I noticed they recently made his tribute to Uncle Frank from 2012 viewable again. It had been private for years.

Jimmy Kimmel's Tribute to Uncle Frank (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD4iBq_U088)

It was a beautiful heartfelt tribute to his best friend. They were lucky to have known each other for almost 50 years. It's understandable he's taking the rest of the week off.


Jimmy telling Cleto Jimmy’s mom found the condom wrapper by her
bed


Jimmy- What’s the worst thing that could have happened?

Cleto- David Letterman died

Jimmy- Ok, the second worst thing…..

Here's the full 22 minutes

0xlVAr6JZ9A?si=BIOs9s1OOrriaEUG
https://youtu.be/0xlVAr6JZ9A?si=BIOs9s1OOrriaEUG

Have they found a replacement bandleader for Cieto Escobedo III on Jimmy Kimmel Live yet? I am curious to know?

Have they found a replacement bandleader for Cieto Escobedo III on Jimmy Kimmel Live yet? I am curious to know?

The band is now billed as ‘The Cleatones” instead of “Cleto and the Cleatones”. They probably won’t be adding anyone.