Jimmy Kimmel
Tearfully Honors Bandleader Cleto Escobedo
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Jimmy Kimmel broke down in tears as he honored his late buddy and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” band chief Cleto Escobedo III throughout Tuesday night time’s present, simply hours after saying his surprising demise.
Try the heartfelt tribute — the late night time TV host remembered Cleto not solely as a powerful musician who was a staple to the present for over 2 a long time, however as one among his closest buddies.
Jimmy recalled assembly Cleto and robotically clicking with him after his dad and mom moved their household from Brooklyn, New York to Las Vegas, Nevada when he was a child. He stated they have been like brothers, principally inseparable — and even claimed he as soon as slept over Cleto’s home “33 nights in a row.”
After all, Jimmy gushed over Cleto’s musical prowess, calling him a “child prodigy who would get standing ovations in junior high school.” So, when Jimmy landed ‘Reside!’ in 2003 … he stated he knew precisely who to name to guide the band.
Cleto was the chief of Cleto and the Cletones for practically 23 years, although he was quietly absent from the present in latest months after falling ailing. His father, Cleto Escobedo II, is within the band, taking part in the tenor and alto saxophone.
Jimmy stated Cleto’s father influenced him to grow to be a musician — after halting his skilled profession to lift his household.
He raved … “I’ve often said that the single best thing about doing this show was getting the opportunity to allow Cleto Senior to pick up where he left off in 1966 and become a musician again with his son.”
The late musician as soon as stated he picked up an instrument due to his dad, and praised him for the sacrifices he made as a father, noting in a 2021 featurette … “I play sax because he played sax when I was a kid … When I started going to school, he quit playing just so he could be home with me and got a job as a busboy at Caesar’s Palace and worked there for 30 years.”
Cleto’s mom, Sylvia, was within the viewers through the 20-minute monologue.
Jimmy introduced his gifted buddy’s demise on Instagram Tuesday. Though the present went on, he informed the viewers the Wednesday and Thursday broadcasts can be canceled.
It isn’t clear how Cleto died.
He was 59.
RIP
