Late-night host ‘devastated’ by loss of band leader, childhood friend

Late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel announced Tuesday that Cleto Escobedo III, his childhood friend and longtime band leader for his show, has died. Escobedo and Kimmel had been friends since they met as children in Las Vegas.

“To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old,“ Kimmel wrote on Instagram. ”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.”

Escobedo fronted the house band Cleto and the Cletones for “Jimmy Kimmel Live” since the show’s debut in 2003. Kimmel kicked off Tuesday night’s episode of the program with a tearful tribute to his friend.

“Everyone loves Cleto… everyone here at the show,” Kimmel said. “We are devastated by this. It’s not… It’s just not fair.”

Escobedo’s mother was in the audience for the taping Tuesday and his father, who is a member of the band, performed during the show. Kimmel later announced that the shows scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday are canceled.

A cause of death has not been publicly released. Escobedo was 59.

Read the original article on mlive.com.