Jimmy Kimmel announces death of longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel announced the death of his longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III, who died Monday at age 59, E! News reported.

Escobedo served as the bandleader on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” since the late-night talk show’s debut in 2003. Kimmel shared news of his longtime friend’s death on Instagram . He did not reveal a cause of death.

“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.”

Kimmel, 57, described a friendship that extended beyond a professional relationship, as the two had been friends since 1977, the report said.

“Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old,” Kimmel said. “The fact that we got to work togeth