Paula Abdul paid tribute to Cleto Escobedo III after news of his death broke.
“My heart is heavy today as we say goodbye to the incredible Cleto Escobedo III,” Abdul, 63, captioned an Instagram video on Tuesday, November 11. “I first met Cleto when he was playing sax in a small bar at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.”
The video showed Abdul and Escobedo III singing her song “Forever Your Girl” while playing the saxophone.
“I was putting together my band for my first world tour and the moment I heard him, I knew I had to hire him, even though he didn’t have any touring experience yet,” Abdul’s caption continued. “His talent and energy were undeniable, and he went on to have an amazing career, reuniting with his best friend Jimmy Kimmel as the bandleader on Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
The singer concluded, “Cleto was pure light and soul, both on and off stage. Sending so much love to his family and everyone who loved him.”
Jimmy Kimmel confirmed on Tuesday that his longtime friend and bandleader Escobedo III had died at age 59.
“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” Kimmel wrote in an Instagram caption, sharing the news. “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement.”
He continued, “Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was 9 years old. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”
Jimmy Kimmel Live! continued as planned on Tuesday night with Kimmel honoring his late friend in a tear-filled monologue.
The talk show host noted that he has done “some hard monologues” throughout his years on TV but discussing his friend’s death was “the hardest.”
UPDATE: 11/8/25 at 5:26 p.m. ET — The Thursday, November 6, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! was reportedly postponed due to a “personal matter” involving the host, Jimmy Kimmel, Entertainment Weekly reported on Saturday, November 8. No additional information regarding the “personal matter” was given. Original story below: The newest episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! […]
“Late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young to go,” Kimmel said, holding back tears. “There was a boy who lived on my block. … He was a little bit older than me. He was a year older than me. His name was Cleto.”
Kimmel recalled the early days of their friendship and how it became a working relationship.
“I wanted Cleto to lead my band,” Kimmel said. “The idea that anyone other than him would lead the band was terrifying. It had to be him.”
Escobedo III’s band Cleto and the Cletones was the Jimmy Kimmel Live! house band since the show’s 2003 premiere.
“I was so scared they would say no and I would have to have another band. I had to work up the nerve to bring it up,” he explained. “Because I knew [saying], ‘My best friend from growing up plays the saxophone, he could lead the band,’ wasn’t a great pitch.”
Kimmel continued, “Not only did I want Cleto to lead the band, I wanted his dad [Cleto Escobedo Jr.] to be in the band. … We’ve been working together every day for almost 23 years now.”
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