Cleto Escobedo III 1966 – 2025

Jimmy Kimmel has hosted some incredibly emotional hours of his late night series in 23 seasons, but none so devestatingly personal as the one he delivered last night.

Kimmel was mourning the loss of his lifelong friend and Jimmy Kimmel Live bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III. The saxophonist and leader of Cleto and the Cletones passed away early on Remembrance Day, Nov. 11.

For the opening 22 minutes and 10 seconds of his show, an emotional Kimmel stood on stage and delivered the most remarkable eulogy I’ve ever witnessed on television. It was all about Cleto and their lasting friendship, which dated back to when Kimmel’s family moved from Brooklyn NY to Las Vegas when the future TV host was nine years old. Cleto, a year older and many times hipper, lived across the street, a few doors down. The nutty stuff these two got up to was candidly shared by Kimmel. He had his studio and home audience spellbound as he wove a heart-wrenching story of true friendship.

Somehow it took several very funny turns. Kimmel’s related how his randy young friend and a young lady borrowed Jimmy’s parent’s bedroom for a sexual tryst. That resulted in a condom wrapper being left on the floor while the homeowners were out of town. As Jimmy described it, his mom spotted it seconds after walking in the door and held it aloft “like the Eucharist.” Mr. Kimmel later gave Cleto a talking to, but “mainly about littering.”

These lighter moments were told through tears, provoking a similar reaction for viewers. The story grew more meaningful as Kimmel described the very tight connection between these two families. Making it all more powerful, Cleto’s dad, Mr. Escobedo Sr., was on stage in his usual spot, sitting with the band. He was the sax player who inspired the son and then abandoned his own career to be off the road and there for young Cleto. The story of how Vegas headliner Sammy Davis Jr. recognized Cleto senior the musician — working odd jobs at a casino — was just one more link in the act of human kindness narrative. On the spot, Sammy hired Cleto senior as his personal dresser.

In 2002, when then ABC programming chief Lloyd Braun annointed Kimmel as the wild card choice to take the network into the late night race, Jimmy knew there was only one guy to lead his band. He arranged an audition for Braun to hear his boyhood friend perform. Kimmel insisted Cleto senior also fly in for the audition. Braun saw father and son perform and told Kimmel it was the perfect combination.

This story was told with Cleto’s mom bravely sitting in the bleachers out front. Kimmel’s show is already a family affair, with aunts, uncles, cousins, his wife Molly McNearney, all a part of every broadcast. What viewers did not know was the extent the Escobedo family was such a key part of this mix. Kimmel called them his second family, the people who helped raise him. What an incredible job they did.

It must be said that this moment almost was lost before Disney stood up a few months ago and did the right thing. Kimmel’s true triumph is not simply — not that that is simple — standing up to a powerful bully, but also providing a real live example of how human kindness and connection with neighbours and friends is what binds us all together. All you need is love is how The Beatles put it. Kimmel, in his grief, took that musical message and made it very 2025.

Kimmel was just so grateful to have shared his success with Cleto. “There’s no one in my life I felt more comfotable with, he was a great older brother. No baggage, all love.”

Imagine, then, how hard it was for Kimmel these past six months, knowing his friend was dying and suffering while at the same time the host was dealing with nightmarish personal and professional attacks from “Teddy Dozevelt.” Did Cleto’s sufferings give him perspective and strength? Same with his recent triumphant week in Brooklyn. How it must have hurt to not be able to share that on stage with Cleto.

Jimmy ended his sermon with this plea: “Cherish your friends. We’re not here forever.” Amen to that brother. Condolences to all the Escobedos and Kimmels, their families and friends.