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Jimmy Kimmel broke down in tears as he honored his late friend and "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" band leader Cleto Escobedo III during Tuesday night's show, just hours after announcing his shocking death.

Check out the heartfelt tribute -- the late night TV host remembered Cleto not only as an impressive musician who was a staple to the show for over 2 decades, but as one of his closest friends.

Jimmy recalled meeting Cleto and automatically clicking with him after his parents moved their family from Brooklyn, New York to Las Vegas, Nevada when he was a kid. He said they were like brothers, basically inseparable -- and even claimed he once slept over Cleto's house "33 nights in a row."

Of course, Jimmy gushed over Cleto's musical prowess, calling him a "child prodigy who would get

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