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A longtime member of \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d<\/a> \u2014 and a good friend of the host himself <\/a>\u2014 has died.<\/p>\n He was 59 years old.<\/p>\n Kimmel announced the death of Cleto Escobedo III, who served as the bandleader on the show, via Instagram on Tuesday. Escobedo and Kimmel reportedly grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, together, and remained friends and colleagues for decades.<\/p>\n \u201cEarly this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician, and man, my longtime leader Cleto Escobedo III,\u201d the post begins<\/a>. \u201cTo say that we are heartbroken is an understatement.<\/p>\n \u201cCleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine 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\u2019s wife, children and parents in your prayers.\u201d<\/p>\n Vareity reports<\/a> that Kimmel addressed Cleto\u2019s death during the opening of the \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d episode that aired that same day.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been on air for almost 23 years, and I\u2019ve had to do some hard monologues along the way,\u201d Kimmel said, getting emotional. \u201cBut this one\u2019s the hardest because late last ight, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young to go, and I\u2019d like to tell you about him, if you don\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Variety, Kimmel stated Escobedo was his first choice to lead his band after inking a deal for the show back in 2003.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone here at the show, we are devastated by this,\u201d Kimmel continued. \u201cIt\u2019s just not fair.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was the nicest, most humble, kind and always funny person.\u201d<\/p>\n Details surrounding the nature of Escobedo\u2019s death remain unconfirmed as of the publishing of this report.<\/p>\n The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/i><\/p>\n Read the original article on pennlive.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nLive Comedy<\/h2>\n