On Tuesday, Jimmy Kimmel took to Instagram to announce that his show’s band leader and childhood best friend, Cleto Escobedo III, has died at the age of 59. In the above monologue, Kimmel gives an incredibly emotional tribute to the man he has known since his family moved to Las Vegas when he was nine, and with whom he began working. Jimmy Kimmel Live! Till 22 years.
During the above 22-minute monologue, Kimmel described his childhood friendship with Escobedo, pointing out that Escobedo and his father both worked as professional saxophone players before launching the show’s band in 2003.
A tearful Kimmel says, “I’m so sad to have lost him. I’m going to take another lesson from him and acknowledge how lucky I was to have him, literally, for so many years.” “Take care of your friends. We’re not here forever.”