Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Jimmy Kimmel gave an on-air tribute to his longtime friend and bandleader Cleto Escobedo III following news of Escobedo's death.
Escobedo, the saxophone-playing bandleader for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, died Tuesday morning, Kimmel announced in a statement that day. Escobedo was 59.
"Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III," Kimmel said in the statement posted to Instagram.
"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."
Kimmel fought tears as he talked about their friendship during his monologue Tuesday evening on Live!
