Jill Kimmel Honors Late Bandleader Cleto Escobedo III with Heartfelt Tribute

Jill Kimmel, the sister of Jimmy Kimmel, posted a poignant homage to Cleto Escobedo III, the bandleader for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, after his passing.

“I continually forget you are no longer with us… but my love for you will always remain,” Jill, aged 55, expressed on Instagram on Sunday, November 16. Her message accompanied a photograph that seemed to be from Escobedo's memorial service. “Life was truly wonderful with you in it, Cleto. Sleep peacefully, my brother.”

Last week, Jimmy, 58, announced the passing of Escobedo, his childhood companion, at 59 years old. Escobedo had served as the frontman for the late-night program's musical group, Cleto and the Cletones, since its debut in 2003.

“In the early hours today, we said goodbye to an incredible friend, devoted father, son, talented musician, and remarkable man, my long-standing bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” the late-night personality shared on Instagram on November 11. “Our sorrow runs deeper than words can express. Cleto and I had an unbreakable bond dating back to when I was nine. The opportunity to collaborate daily was a realization of a dream neither of us ever conceived. Value your friendships and please hold Cleto’s spouse, kids, and parents in your thoughts.”

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According to his death certificate acquired by TMZ, Escobedo’s passing was subsequently attributed to “cardiogenic shock … along with vasodilatory shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver identified as contributing factors.”

Following the announcement of Escobedo’s demise, Jimmy honored his departed friend with a heartfelt monologue during an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

“A boy resided on my street. … He was slightly older than me, just one year my senior. His name was Cleto,” Jimmy recounted on November 11, visibly moved. “Eventually, our paths crossed. We forged a deep bond — more than just casual acquaintances. We were the kind of friends who’d constantly plead with our mothers, ‘Please, can I sleep over?’ One summer, I genuinely spent 33 consecutive nights at the Escobedo residence. My mom would insist I kneel and beg in front of him to stay at his place, and I’d happily comply, because boredom was never an issue.”

Jimmy recounted how his bond with Escobedo endured into their adult years. Upon being presented with the chance to anchor his own late-night program, Jimmy desired Escobedo’s presence.

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“I envisioned Cleto as the leader of my musical ensemble. … The thought of anyone else helming the band was daunting. It simply had to be him,” he stated. “My fear was that they would decline, forcing me to find a different group. I had to muster the courage to propose it. I understood that presenting, ‘My childhood best friend plays the saxophone, he could front the band’ wasn’t a compelling argument.”

Beyond including Cleto, Jimmy also enlisted his friend’s father, Cleto Escobedo Sr., to join.

“My desire wasn’t just for Cleto to lead the band, but for his father to be a part of it too,” Kimmel added, mentioning that Cleto and his dad underwent an audition for an ABC executive prior to securing the position. “We’ve collaborated daily for nearly 23 years straight.”