Jimmy Kimmel's band leader and longtime friend Cleto Escobedo III dies at 59

Cleto Escobedo III, the bandleader of Cleto and the Cletones, the location set for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” has died. The instrumentalist and lifelong person of Kimmel was 59.

Kimmel confirmed Escobedo’s decease aboriginal Tuesday greeting successful an Instagram station aboriginal that day, penning that “we mislaid a large friend, father, son, instrumentalist and man.”

“To accidental that we are heartbroken is an understatement,” Kimmel continued. “Cleto and I person been inseparable since I was 9 years old. The information that we got to enactment unneurotic each time is simply a imagination neither of america could ever person imagined would travel true. Cherish your friends and delight support Cleto’s wife, children and parents successful your prayers.”

The quality of Escobedo’s decease comes aft “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was abruptly canceled Thursday , reportedly owed to a “personal matter.” The origin of Escobedo’s decease was not instantly released.

Escobedo had led the set done the late-night amusement since its premiere successful 2003, playing alongside a radical of musicians that included his father, Cleto Escobedo Jr.

Escobedo was an accomplished nonrecreational musician, having toured with Earth, Wind and Fire’s Philip Bailey and Paula Abdul and recorded with Marc Anthony, Tom Scott and Take Six. When Kimmel got his ain ABC late-night speech amusement successful 2003, helium pushed for Escobedo to pb the location band, helium told WABC successful 2015.

“Of people I wanted large musicians, but I wanted idiosyncratic I had chemistry with,” Kimmel told the outlet. “And there’s cipher successful my beingness I person amended chemistry with than him.”

In an August 2016 episode, Kimmel wished Escobedo a blessed 50th day and highlighted his long-standing narration with the musician. They met successful 1977 erstwhile Kimmel’s household moved successful crossed the thoroughfare from the Escobedos successful Las Vegas. “We began a beingness of relationship that was highlighted by the benignant of torture that lone an older member tin inflict connected you without being arrested,” Kimmel said earlier sharing a bid of stories astir their sibling-like enslaved and Escobedo’s antics.

“I can’t hold till your kids crook 12 and spot this, and find retired their begetter is simply a concealed maniac,” Kimmel said. The big besides shared photos of them arsenic children, including 1 of Escobedo playing the saxophone and Kimmel playing the clarinet.

In summation to his begetter and different household members, Escobedo is survived by his wife, Lori, and their 2 children.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.