Cleto Escobedo III, the dynamic bandleader and saxophonist whose music and friendship were the heartbeat of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for over two decades, has died. He was 59 years old. The news was confirmed on November 11, 2025, by Kimmel himself, who shared an emotional tribute to his childhood friend on social media. Escobedo’s passing has sent waves of grief through the entertainment industry, leaving colleagues, fans, and a tight-knit family of musicians to mourn a man celebrated for his immense talent and his even greater character. The bond between the talk show host and his bandleader was a rare constant in the world of television, a lifelong friendship that famously played out on screen every weeknight.
For countless viewers, Cleto and the Cletones provided the unmistakable sound of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” From the very first note when the show premiered in 2003, Escobedo’s soulful saxophone and the band’s versatile rhythms were as integral to the program as the host’s monologue. Yet, his journey with Kimmel began long before the bright lights of Hollywood, rooted in the quiet streets of their Las Vegas childhood. The sudden loss of such a foundational figure has left a profound silence, prompting an outpouring of love and remembrance for an artist who was, for so many, both a familiar face and the unseen glue of a late-night institution.
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A Friendship Forged in Music and Sidecars
The story of Cleto Escobedo III and Jimmy Kimmel is one of enduring loyalty that spanned nearly five decades. The two were neighbors growing up in Las Vegas and became inseparable from the age of nine. Kimmel once fondly recalled the mischievous dynamic of their youth, painting a picture of a playful, brother-like relationship.
“Cleto had a bicycle with a sidecar attached to it,” Kimmel shared in a 2016 birthday tribute. “I would get in the sidecar and then Cleto would drive me directly into garbage cans and bushes.” This deep, personal history formed the bedrock of their professional partnership. When Kimmel was given his own late-night show, he knew without a doubt that he wanted his friend Cleto to lead the band.
Kimmel was initially nervous that network executives would reject the idea of hiring his friend, so he took a decisive step. He brought the president of ABC, Lloyd Braun, to see Escobedo perform with his own band. The executive was impressed, and Escobedo landed the gig. Reflecting on this decision, Kimmel later explained, “Of course I wanted great musicians, but I wanted somebody I had chemistry with. And there’s nobody in my life I have better chemistry with than him.”
#BREAKING 🕊️ Jimmy Kimmel’s band leader Cleto of Cleto and the Cletones has died.
All we know: https://t.co/ucQlKfdcqv pic.twitter.com/ZyuL0mEE5i
— TMZ (@TMZ) November 11, 2025
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For Escobedo, the opportunity was a testament to Kimmel’s character. “Jimmy is very loyal to his friends,” he once said. “He didn’t have to ask me; I would have understood if he had hired some famous guy to be his musical director. But he trusted me, and I don’t take it for granted.” He assembled the Cletones, a group of versatile musicians capable of playing any genre on the fly, and notably included his own father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., a retired saxophonist who came out of retirement to join his son on stage.
A Life in the Spotlight and a Private Illness
While the cause of Cleto Escobedo’s death has not been officially confirmed by his family, reports have emerged suggesting he suffered complications related to a liver transplant. His health had been declining for some time, leading to his noticeable absence from the show in the preceding months. The seriousness of his condition was underscored just days before his passing when Kimmel canceled the taping of his November 6th episode due to a “personal matter” to be by his friend’s side. The scheduled musical performance for that episode, by pop singer Madison Beer, was subsequently postponed.
Beyond his role on television, Escobedo was an accomplished and respected musician in his own right. Born on August 23, 1966, he came from a musical family; his father was a saxophonist for the 1960s band Los Blues. Before his late-night fame, Escobedo had secured his own record deal and toured the world with major artists, a testament to his skill. He was a member of Paula Abdul’s touring band and also performed with music legends like Earth, Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey and Marc Anthony.
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This professional pedigree made him a natural fit for the demanding role of a late-night bandleader, where the music could shift from classic soul to modern pop in an instant. He is survived by his wife, children, and his parents. As the world remembers Cleto Escobedo III, it celebrates not just the talented musician who brought energy to television screens for over twenty years, but also a devoted family man and a loyal friend whose loss is felt as deeply as the music he played.
