Cleto Escobedo III, childhood friend of Jimmy Kimmel and longtime bandleader of Jimmy Kimmel Live , has died at age 59. Kimmel announced the news on his Instagram Tuesday afternoon. The cause of death was not disclosed.

“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man,” Kimmel wrote alongside sharing a photograph of Escobedo with his saxophone. “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”

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The news comes shortly after Entertainment Weekly confirmed that

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