Jimmy Kimmel Breaks Down Honoring Late Bandleader Cleto Escobedo III

Jimmy Kimmel opened Tuesday’s episode of “ Jimmy Kimmel Live! ” with a heartfelt tribute to his childhood friend and late-night bandleader Cleto Escobedo III , who died Tuesday at 59 .

“We’ve been on the air for almost 23 years, and I’ve had to do some hard monologues along the way,” Kimmel said, crying. “But this one’s the hardest because late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young to go, and I’d like to tell you about him. If you don’t mind.”

As Kimmel recalled his lifelong friendship with Escobedo, photos from their childhood together in Las Vegas appeared on screen. Escobedo’s father, who is in Kimmel’s band, and mother were in attendance Tuesday night. They were visibly moved by the tribute.

“There was a boy who lived on my block.