“I failed to answer… and now the moment is gone.” — Jimmy Kimmel’s voice broke as he recounted the final telephone call from his enduring friend and musical associate, Cleto Escobedo III, on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

During a spell of strange quiet on the broadcast, Jimmy detailed that Cleto had telephoned him mere hours before he passed away—a call he was overly occupied to take. “I figured I’d return the call later… but ‘later’ never came,” Jimmy stated, tears cascading down his cheeks. The studio was overcome with feeling.

No amusement, no melodies—only the sorrow of a man who had been deprived of his closest companion. “He was present—each evening, each tune, every instance I required a smile,” Jimmy murmured. “And presently, I simply wish… I had answered.” It wasn’t merely a gut-wrenching admission, but a moral that left the world stunned into silence. ·

Jimmy Kimmel dissolves in tears as he pays tribute to deceased bandleader and friend Cleto Escobedo III in poignant monologue: ‘It’s simply not just’

It was a heartfelt evening for Jimmy Kimmel, as he commemorated his childhood associate-turned-bandleader Cleto Escobedo III subsequent to his death at 59 earlier Tuesday. ‘We’ve been broadcasting for nearly 23 years, and I’ve had to deliver some difficult monologues during that time – but this one is the toughest,’ Kimmel, 57, stated about Cleto, who was godfather to his son Kevin.

Kimmel proceeded: ‘Late yesterday evening, early this morning, we were deprived of someone truly special who was far too young to depart – and I want to describe him to you, if you’ll allow me.’

Escobedo was adored by all his coworkers at the ABC late-night program, as he consistently treated everyone with decency, mentioned Kimmel, who also noted he would be absent for the remainder of the week to mourn his companion.

‘I mean, everyone adores Cleto,’ said Kimmel, who was clearly overcome. ‘Everyone present at the program. We are shattered by this. It’s simply unjust. He was the most pleasant, modest, considerate, and consistently amusing individual.’ Kimmel spoke candidly about how when he was employed by ABC to anchor the late-night program in 2002, Escobedo was among the initial names he considered.

It was a heartfelt evening for Jimmy Kimmel, as he commemorated his deceased bandleader Cleto Escobedo III subsequent to his passing. Pictured 2012

Kimmel mentioned that Tuesday’s monologue was the most difficult he had to perform in almost 23 years ‘One day in September 2002, I received a talk show – completely unexpectedly,’ Kimmel stated. ‘And when you produce a program of this kind, you require several elements.’

He proceeded: ‘You require a desk, you require an announcer, you require a Guillermo – and you require a musical group.’ Kimmel mentioned he ‘desired Cleto to direct’ the band, and ‘the thought that anyone else would direct the band was frightening.’ Kimmel stated he and Escobedo had connected while observing David Letterman and his musical director Paul Shaffer interact.

Stated Kimmel: ‘We were raised observing Dave and Paul – it needed to be him.’ Kimmel had Escobedo’s father Cleto Sr., 82, (who performs on tenor and alto saxophones in his group); and mother Sylvia, 80, present on the poignant evening, referring to them as similar to ‘substitute parents’ since his youth.

‘This is a very close-knit family,’ Kimmel mentioned of Escobedo’s family. ‘This is the sort of family that when they are apart, they phone each other four times daily – it’s a small, close-knit unit.’ Kimmel said he initially encountered Escobedo when his family relocated from Brooklyn to Las Vegas, and his family ‘purchased a residence in a subdivision of Las Vegas called Spring Valley.’

 The late-night host presented a poignant commemoration for his lifelong companion

Kimmel concentrated on the positive experiences he had with his deceased friend, who died Tuesday

Kimmel had Escobedo’s father Cleto Sr. (who performs in his group); and mother Sylvia present on the poignant evening Kimmel recollected that Escobedo ‘resided across the road and two dwellings down,’ noting, ‘in time we met and grew to be friends – and not just standard friends – we became constant, “Mom, please allow me to stay the night, please” type of companions.’

Kimmel remembered that one summer, he stayed overnight at Escobedo’s residence ’33 consecutive nights’ as they ‘were never weary’ and ‘were constantly engaged in some activity.’ Kimmel recollected the enjoyable moments he shared with Escobedo as adolescents, consisting of ‘wiffle ball on the front lawn;’ ‘Nerf football in the street;’ dressing up as cowboys and setting ‘fire to Hot Wheels.’

Kimmel said other pastimes he enjoyed with his late friend included playing billiards; practical jokes and phony phone calls; and boxing one another. ‘We assuredly gave one another numerous concussions!’ Kimmel stated. Kimmel mentioned that Escobedo educated him about the facts of life as best he could.

‘Cleto was highly concentrated on sex from an early age,’ Kimmel said amusingly. ‘He understood everything regarding sex, and he instructed me on all of it. ‘Now, 50 percent of what he instructed me was incorrect – sometimes dangerously incorrect, very incorrect.’

Kimmel finished the tribute for his companion by thanking his parents for ‘creating him;’ for ‘sharing him with me and with all of us;’ and ‘for treating me like their own son always’ Kimmel recalled: ‘For instance, he informed me it was unfeasible to get a girl pregnant in a hot tub because warm water neutralized the sperm- and that, incidentally, is false – do not attempt that. But he possessed a lot of knowledge – and I wanted to absorb all of it.’

Before collaborating with Kimmel on the ABC program, Cleto earned his income by performing with skilled musicians such as Paula Abdul, Philip Bailey, Luis Miguel and Marc Anthony. Kimmel observed that as their positions shifted in their careers, and he ‘suddenly became the celebrity … Cleto never exhibited a hint of jealousy, resentment, or passive-aggression.’ Stated Kimmel: ‘Nothing of the sort, ever – the contrary.

He felt pride for me, he cared for me, he enjoyed witnessing me achieve success, he enjoyed watching all of this transpire – he cherished being included in it.’ Kimmel continued, ‘There is no individual in my life I felt more at ease with – he was the godfather to my son Kevin; we served as the best men at one another’s nuptials.’

Kimmel also expressed his thankfulness to the healthcare specialists at UCLA Medical Center who provided ‘exceptionally good care for’ Cleto as his health declined. Kimmel concluded the tribute for his companion by expressing thanks to his parents for ‘creating him;’ for ‘sharing him with me and with all of us;’ and ‘for treating me like their own son always.’ Kimmel finished, ‘Value your companions. We are not here indefinitely.

Thank you for bearing with me. We plan to be absent for the following few evenings. But I needed to be present this evening to speak about my companion.’

Kimmel shared a youth snapshot of his friend honing his musical talents at a young age

Before collaborating with Kimmel on the ABC program, Cleto earned his income by performing with skilled musicians such as Paula Abdul, Philip Bailey, Luis Miguel and Marc Anthony

Kimmel and Cleto III were raised on the same street in Las Vegas – memories so valued that the late-night host later named his company, Meadow Lark Lane Productions, after the street where they resided During a difficult year for Kimmel, several of his followers in a YouTube discussion mentioned that his character shone brightly on Tuesday as he commemorated his deceased close friend.

‘No individual has ever presented a finer homage to an enduring companion and his family than this one,’ said one observer. ‘RIP Cleto. Condolences to his family and all he worked with and knew.’ Another user commended the compassion and unfiltered feeling Kimmel conveyed to the program with the ‘lovely’ tribute to Cleto.

‘I am 79, I was weeping while hearing Jimmy recount his enduring friendship narrative with his friend Cleto,’ said the user. Another commended Kimmel for being ‘masculine enough to weep and express his sentiments.’ In a similar spirit, another said, ‘Jimmy is the lone talk show who displays his emotions openly.’ One observer noted about the bond between Jimmy and Cleto: ‘That isn’t a companion.

That was a sibling without parallel. RIP.’ Tuesday’s sad declaration occurred days after Kimmel called off his program on Thursday and was spotted outside a medical facility in Los Angeles with Escobedo’s family and spouse Molly McNearney, 47, in a scene depicted to Daily Mail as ’emotional.’ Kimmel had earlier declared the devastating death in an Instagram update on Tuesday.

He informed his 4 million followers that stating ‘that we are devastated is an understatement.’ Kimmel said, ‘Early today, we were deprived of a wonderful companion, patriarch, son, performer, and person, my enduring bandleader Cleto Escobedo III.’ Kimmel stated he and Cleto had ‘been indivisible’ since they were nine years old.

Amid a difficult year for Kimmel , several of his followers in a YouTube discussion mentioned that his character shone brightly on Tuesday as he commemorated his deceased close friend

Kimmel initially addressed Escobedo’s death in a message posted to Instagram

 Paula Abdul posted a sincere homage to Escobedo on Instagram. Escobedo notably traveled with Abdul during the 1990s as a member of her musical group ‘The reality that we were able to collaborate daily is a fantasy neither of us ever envisioned would materialize,’ he said.

‘Value your companions and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.’ Cleto’s spouse Lori, 49, informed Daily Mail that ‘all is not well’ on Monday, while his musical coworker Jeff Babko, 53, said worries for Cleto’s condition had been ‘justified.’

Cleto is survived by wife Lori and two children. Paula Abdul posted a sincere homage to Escobedo on Instagram. Escobedo notably traveled with Abdul during the 1990s as a member of her musical group. ‘My spirit is weighed down today as we bid farewell to the amazing Cleto Escobedo III,’ the superstar commenced. ‘I initially encountered Cleto when he was performing sax in a little tavern at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

I was assembling my group for my first world tour and the instant I heard him, I realized I needed to employ him, even though he lacked any touring experience yet.’ She wrote that Escobedo’s ‘skill and vitality were indisputable.’ ‘And he proceeded to have a fantastic career, joining forces again with his closest companion Jimmy Kimmel as the bandleader on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Cleto was sheer radiance and spirit, both on and off the platform. ‘Transmitting abundant affection to his relatives and all who adored him,’ Abdul finished.