India, Nov. 12 -- Cleto Escobedo III, the longtime band leader of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and a lifelong friend of host Jimmy Kimmel, has passed away at the age of 59.

Kimmel shared the heartbreaking news in an Instagram post on Tuesday, writing:

"Early this morning, 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. 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. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto's wife, children and parents in your prayers."

As of now, no cause of death has been publicly disclosed.

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