Heart and Sax: A Tribute to Cleto Escobedo III
Music fans, it's time to grab your tissues. A legendary saxophonist and longtime best friend of host Jimmy Kimmel has left us, and his notes will echo forever in the world of late-night TV. Cleto Escobedo III, the music maestro behind Jimmy Kimmel Live's iconic theme, passed away at 59, leaving a saxophone-shaped void in our hearts.
Jimmy Kimmel shared this heartache with the world on social media and offered a tearful goodbye during his show this past Tuesday night (Nov. 11). 'Early this morning,' Kimmel wrote on Instagram, 'we lost a great friend, father, son, musician, and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III. To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement.'
The bromance between Kimmel and Escobedo goes way back—like, sandbox level back. When Kimmel's family landed in Las Vegas in 1977, they became neighborhood kids with Escobedo just two doors down. That's where their epic journey began, filled with laughter, music, and unforgettable mischief.
Kimmel could barely hold back the tears as he shared the profound impact Escobedo had on his life. 'We’ve been on the air for almost 23 years and I’ve had to do some hard monologues along the way. But this one’s the hardest,' confessed Kimmel. These two were more like brothers, spending endless hours in sleepovers, pulling pranks, and probably sharing enough sports stories to fill a stadium.
Jimmy took us down memory lane, sharing outrageous tales of their youth. They were hard-core David Letterman fans, dreamers who couldn't believe it when they first appeared on that iconic Late Show back in 1999. Kimmel fondly remembered during the run-up to his debut, when the two were so stoked they spent hours burning off nervous energy roaming the streets of New York City together.
Escobedo wasn't just a musician; he was a sax prodigy! Imagining a junior high kid getting standing ovations is wild, right? Like father, like son, Escobedo followed in his dad's musical footsteps, jamming with Paula Abdul, hitting milestones on stage, and inspiring aspiring musicians everywhere with his stellar performances.
Cleto and his father sounded an unbeatable duo, rocking late-night tunes from 2003 onwards. Their infectious chemistry elevated Jimmy Kimmel Live to new heights, turning every episode into a musical fiesta. This trio of Cleto, Cleto Sr., and Jimmy was dynamite, an unforgettable formula of friendship and talent.
The coolest journey will be rocked by the absence of Cleto Escobedo III, but his vibe will forever energize us all. Rest in sax and soul, dear Cleto!