A , the band leader on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and a lifelong friend of the late-night host.
According to a death certificate obtained by TMZ, , a rare condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood to supply the body, depriving vital organs of oxygen. It can be but not everyone who has a heart attack gets cardiogenic shock, per the Mayo Clinic.
, disseminated — a blood clotting disorder that can cause organ damage and uncontrollable bleeding — and were also listed as underlying causes. Other included sepsis, graft versus host disease, immunosuppression, chronic kidney disease and pneumonia, according to the document.
Escobedo, leader of , was 59 years old.
in an emotional Instagram post.
“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man,” Kimmel wrote on Tuesday. “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was 9 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 also paid homage to Escobedo on his late-night show, calling it the “hardest” one he’s ever had to deliver. He also canceled the following shows on both Wednesday and Thursday night.
Escobedo and Kimmel first met after the Brooklyn-born host moved to Las Vegas at the age of 9. Escobedo lived down the street, and the duo became fast friends.
Escobedo grew up in a musical family — his father, — and he began performing at a young age. He went on to have his own successful career leading the Cletones, touring with Paula Abdul, Marc Anthony and others, before Kimmel came calling.
Escobedo led Kimmel’s band since 2003, when the ABC host landed the late-night gig. Kimmel personally vouched for his friend to get the job when negotiating with executives.
In addition to his father, Escobedo is survived by his wife, Lori, and their two children.
