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By Martha McHardy
US News Reporter
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Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime friend and bandleader Cleto Escobedo III's cause of death has been confirmed by authorities, according to TMZ.
Citing Escobedo's death certificate, the outlet reported that he died of cardiogenic shock. Cardiogenic shock is a critical medical emergency in which the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood to supply the body, a condition that severely limits oxygen delivery to vital organs, according to the Mayo Clinic, which also notes that only a portion of heart attack patients develop the complication.
The Context
Escobedo’s death represents the loss of a central figure in late-night television. As the longtime bandleader of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and a close friend of Kimmel dating back to their childhood in Las Vegas, Escobedo played a key role in establishing the show’s sound and on-air style throughout its 20-plus years on ABC.
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What To Know
The death certificate also listed vasodilatory shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver as the underlying causes.
The filing also cites several underlying medical problems that played a role in Escobedo’s decline, including sepsis, complications from graft-versus-host disease, a weakened immune system, chronic kidney impairment, and pneumonia, TMZ reported.
Page Six previously reported that the musician "had complications stemming from a liver transplant."
Kimmel revealed Escobedo's death in a heartfelt tribute posted to Instagram on Tuesday.
"Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III," Kimmel said. "To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true."
Following his death, Kimmel discussed his friendship with Escobedo on his show on November 11, fighting back tears.
Kimmel also postponed the November 12 and 13 episodes of the show, with Escobedo's father stepping in to perform with the band during the November 11 taping.
Escobedo had been the musical director of Jimmy Kimmel Live! since the program launched in 2003, leading the house band alongside his father. His long association with Kimmel stretched back to their childhood in Las Vegas where they lived across the street from each other and formed an early connection through shared interests in comedy and music.
Before joining the late-night show, Escobedo built a respected career as a saxophonist, performing and touring with artists including Paula Abdul, Marc Anthony, Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire, Tom Scott, and Take 6. When ABC finalized plans for Kimmel’s late-night program, Kimmel specifically asked that Escobedo be brought on as bandleader—a request network executives approved, citing the pair’s established rapport and creative chemistry.
Escobedo once described his role on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as “the best gig ever,” a reflection he shared in a 2021 ABC featurette celebrating Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month.
"I play sax because he played sax when I was a kid — my dad sacrificed a lot for me," Escobedo said. "He was a musician for many years, he was on the road a lot before I was born. And then when I started going to school, he quit playing just so he could be home with me and got a job as a busboy at Caesar's Palace and worked there for 30 years."
Escobedo is survived by his wife, Lori, and their two children, Cruz and Jesse.
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What People Are Saying
Kimmel said in his Jimmy Kimmel Live! opening monologue on Tuesday: "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. Early this morning we lost someone very special, who was much too young to go, and I'd like to tell you about him. He would call me. He'd send me notes all the time, big stuff, little stuff, whatever, telling me, 'Oh, this was so funny. I love this. I'm proud of you. I'm so happy that we get to be together all the time.' He would tell me how lucky he was. He was just a great older brother. No baggage, all love. There's no one in my life I felt more comfortable with. Always cherish your friends. We're not here forever."
SiriusXM host Eric Alper wrote on Facebook: "A gifted musician, loving father, and joyful spirit who made late-night TV feel like family."
Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist John Katsilometes wrote on X: "Shaken to have learned Cleto Escobedo III has died. Jimmy Kimmel's longtime friend and bandleader of Cleto and the Cletones on Jimmy Kimmel Live, son of Vegas entertainment icon Cleto Escobedo Jr. was 59. Escobedo was away from the show since the summer. Kimmel had stepped away from the show over the past week."
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