Cleto Escobedo (usually referred to as Cleto Escobedo III) was an American saxophonist, bandleader, and television music director best known as the longtime bandleader on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”. He led the show’s house band, Cleto and the Cletones, from its launch in 2003 until his death in 2025, becoming a familiar face in late‑night TV music.

Quick Scoop

  • Full name: Cleto Valentine Escobedo III.
  • Born: August 23, 1966, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Died: November 11, 2025, aged 59.
  • Claim to fame: Bandleader and saxophonist for Cleto and the Cletones on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”.

Early life and background

Cleto Escobedo III grew up in Las Vegas in a highly musical family, with his father Cleto Escobedo Jr. also a respected saxophonist. At his mother’s suggestion he learned saxophone under his father’s guidance, later playing in school and local jazz ensembles before briefly attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Career before Jimmy Kimmel

Before late‑night TV fame, Escobedo paid his dues on the road and in clubs. He toured with major pop and Latin artists, including Paula Abdul (notably on her “Spellbound” tour in the early 1990s) and Marc Anthony, and performed with the band Cecilia Noël and the Wild Clams.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” years

When Jimmy Kimmel launched his ABC late‑night show in 2003, he tapped Escobedo—an old friend from their Las Vegas youth and earlier work on “The Man Show”—to lead the house band. Escobedo formed Cleto and the Cletones, co‑wrote the show’s theme music, and remained musical director and on‑air bandleader from the first episode through 2025.

Personal life and passing

Escobedo was married to Lori and had two children, though his family generally stayed out of the spotlight. He died on November 11, 2025, in Los Angeles after months of serious illness; reports describe cardiogenic shock related to complications from a liver transplant, with underlying liver disease as a contributing factor. Jimmy Kimmel publicly mourned him and temporarily stepped away from the show following the news, underscoring how central Escobedo was to the program and its community.

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