Cleto Escobedo III, the longtime bandleader of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and a fixture of late-night television for over two decades, has died at 59.

The news was announced by host Jimmy Kimmel, who shared a deeply personal tribute to his best friend on Instagram, saying that Escobedo and he have been inseparable since they were nine years old.

‘Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,’ Kimmel wrote.

‘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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