Jimmy Kimmel honoured his late friend and bandleader Cleto Escobedo with a charitable tribute.
In posts on social media announcing Escobedo’s Tuesday death, Jimmy Kimmel described Escobedo as a “great friend, father, son, musician and man.” He urged his followers to keep Escobedo’s family in their thoughts. Kimmel on the show recalled the shenanigans the two boys would get into while growing up together, and detailed how he followed in his friend’s footsteps, copying his fashion choices and hairstyles, following him through workouts at the gym and sharing moments at parties and through hobbies they had in common. The news comes after Kimmel postponed a show taping last week for a “personal matter.” Kimmel said Tuesday night that the show would be taking a few nights off due to Escobedo’s passing.
Escobedo, a Las Vegas native, has led Cleto and the Cletones for Kimmel’s late-night show for more than 20 years. Escobedo toured with Paula Abdul, playing saxophone and singing at her shows, and later Abdul signed him to a record label, where he recorded an album. Abdul paid tribute to the late saxophone player on Instagram Tuesday night, recalling how they met at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Kimmel moved in across the street from Escobedo in 1977 when the comedian’s parents left New York for Sin City.
He teased his friend about times when Kimmel rode in the sidecar of Escobedo’s bicycle just for Escobedo to steer him into trash cans. Kimmel told one story about a time when he built a go-kart out of wood as a child, only to be sabotaged by his buddy.