Originally appeared on E! Online<\/a><\/p>\n Jimmy Kimmel<\/a><\/strong> is grieving a personal and professional loss.<\/p>\n The Jimmy Kimmel Live! host\u2019s band leader Cleto Escobedo III<\/strong>, who held the role since the late-night talk show\u2019s debut in 2003, died Nov. 11, Jimmy announced on social media. He was 59.<\/p>\n \u201cEarly this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,\u201d Jimmy wrote in a post on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cTo say that we are heartbroken is an understatement.\u201d<\/p>\n While the comedian did not share a cause of death, he noted that his close bond with the late musician extended far beyond their work ties.<\/p>\n \u201cCleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old,\u201d Jimmy, 57, continued. \u201cThe fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCherish your friends,\u201d he concluded the heartfelt message, \u201cand please keep Cleto\u2019s wife, children and parents in your prayers.\u201d<\/p>\n More from E! Online<\/strong><\/p>\n Five days earlier, the Nov. 6 taping of JKL was postponed while Jimmy dealt with a personal matter<\/a>. The ABC series\u2014which previously faced a temporary suspension<\/a> in September\u2014returned to the air Nov. 10, though the TV host did not address the last-minute scheduling change.<\/p>\n Disney\/Randy Holmes<\/p>\n In addition to Cleto\u2019s late-night duties, the musician also toured with the likes of Paula Abdul<\/strong>, Marc Anthony<\/strong> and Earth, Wind & Fire<\/strong>. In fact, Jimmy previously described Cleto as a \u201cchild prodigy,\u201d noting that he fought tooth and nail to bring his best friend aboard his namesake talk show.<\/p>\n \u201cI was nervous, because I thought they’d say, \u2018We don’t want your friend to be the band leader,\u2019\u201d he told ABC7 Eyewitness News<\/a> in 2015. \u201cSo I took the president of ABC to see him play with his band, and he loved it.\u201d<\/p>\n Fortunately, Jimmy got his way in the end, hiring his first\u2014and only\u2014pick for the role.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I wanted great musicians, but I wanted somebody I had chemistry with,\u201d the host added said. \u201cAnd there’s nobody in my life I have better chemistry with than him.\u201d<\/p>\n For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/div>\n