what happened to cleto and the cletones

Cleto and the Cletones have not “broken up,” but the group was deeply affected when longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III died in November 2025 at age 59, after complications related to a liver transplant and an undisclosed illness. The band’s legacy on Jimmy Kimmel Live! continues to be referenced, and the show has recently featured “The Cletones” name in special musical appearances, even as the future of a permanent new house band lineup is still evolving in early 2026.

Who Cleto and the Cletones Were

• Cleto and the Cletones were the house band for Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its launch in 2003, led by saxophonist Cleto Escobedo III.

• The core lineup included Cleto Escobedo III, his father Cleto Escobedo Jr., Jeff Babko, Jimmy Earl, Jonathan Dresel, and Toshi Yanagi, all seasoned L.A. session players.

What Happened Recently

• On November 11, 2025, Cleto Escobedo III died at 59; Jimmy Kimmel announced the news publicly and paid tribute to him on the show with an emotional monologue.

• Reports and entertainment outlets describe the cause as complications following a liver transplant / illness, and Kimmel emphasized how inseparable the two had been since childhood.

Status of the Band Now (2026)

• After Cleto’s death, Jimmy Kimmel Live! briefly paused production and then returned with tributes; the original house-band format is effectively in transition without its longtime leader.

• In early 2026 scheduling info, “Debbie Gibson with The Cletones” is billed among musical guests, showing the Cletones name still in use for featured performances rather than as the nightly in-house band in its old form.

Fan and Forum Discussion

• Online forum and social chatter around “what happened to Cleto and the Cletones” tends to focus on:
  • Grief and memories of Cleto’s on-screen personality and sax solos.
  • Questions about whether ABC will formally retire the band name or keep it alive as a tribute on JKL!.

• Some speculate the show may shift toward rotating bands or guest lineups, while others hope remaining members will continue under The Cletones banner in Cleto’s honor.

TL;DR

• Cleto and the Cletones didn’t vanish; their story took a tragic turn when bandleader Cleto Escobedo III died in late 2025, leaving the band’s classic nightly role on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in flux.

• The Cletones name is still appearing with guest artists in 2026, suggesting an evolving tribute rather than a clean breakup.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.