Longtime Jimmy Kimmel Live! band leader and close friend of the show host Cleto Escobedo III died recently at the age of 59.

On his Tuesday show, Kimmel delivered a touching tribute to Escobedo, a lifelong friend to Kimmel who held a vital role in making Kimmel's late night show a success.

Escobedo's death is a great tragedy for the late night word, but Kimmel's powerful eulogy for his best friend and bandleader helps contextualize how important he was to Jimmy Kimmel Live! and, more importantly, its host.

This is such a sad monologue for what's already been a difficult year for Kimmel's show, but the host once again rose to the moment to say exactly what needed to be said.

What a terrible, terrible loss.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Jimmy Kimmel gave a moving tribute to late bandleader Cleto Escobedo III

Reporting by Cory Woodroof, For The Win / For The Win

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