Cleto Escobedo III, the longtime bandleader for Jimmy Kimmel Live! and a childhood friend of host Jimmy Kimmel, has died at 59. Kimmel announced the loss on Instagram, describing Escobedo as a close friend and colleague they had been “inseparable” with since childhood. Escobedo led the show’s house band after the program began in 2003 and had a decades-long career as a saxophonist and vocalist. The cause of death has not been disclosed; the show briefly canceled a recent episode for a “personal reason,” which entertainment outlet Variety later linked to Escobedo’s condition.
Key Takeaways
- Cleto Escobedo III, age 59, served as bandleader of Jimmy Kimmel Live! since the show’s launch in 2003.
- Escobedo and Jimmy Kimmel were childhood neighbors in Las Vegas and friends since 1977, when Kimmel’s family moved from Brooklyn.
- Escobedo formed Cleto and the Cletones in 1995 and performed alto, tenor and soprano saxophone as well as vocals.
- He toured or performed with notable artists including Paula Abdul, Marc Anthony and Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire.
- Jimmy Kimmel announced the death on Instagram and asked for prayers for Escobedo’s wife, children and parents.
- “Personal reason” linked to a recent episode cancellation; Variety reported the connection but no official cause of death has been released.
- Cleto Escobedo Jr., his father, is also a member of the Jimmy Kimmel Live! house band.
Background
Escobedo and Kimmel grew up as next-door neighbors in Las Vegas. Kimmel’s family moved there in January 1977, and the two boys developed a lifelong friendship that later translated into a professional partnership on national television. Escobedo pursued a career in music, forming Cleto and the Cletones in 1995 and establishing himself primarily as a saxophonist.
When Jimmy Kimmel launched Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC in 2003, he invited Escobedo to lead the house band. That choice reflected a personal trust rather than a search for an already famous name; Escobedo told ABC7 in 2013 that Kimmel had placed confidence in him to fill the role and that he had worked to honor that trust. Over the following two decades Escobedo became a regular television presence and a steady musical anchor for the program.
Main Event
On the morning the news became public, Kimmel posted on Instagram that they had lost “a great friend, father, son, musician and man,” asking followers to keep Escobedo’s family in their prayers. Kimmel emphasized their long history, saying they had been inseparable since childhood and that working together daily was a dream for both of them.
Variety and other outlets reported that a recent abrupt cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live! for a Thursday episode was tied to a “personal reason.” The show returned with a new episode on Monday and planned another episode on Tuesday, with Kimmel expected to address Escobedo’s passing. No official medical cause has been released by family or representatives.
Beyond the late-night stage, Escobedo had a touring résumé that included stints with Paula Abdul, Marc Anthony and Philip Bailey. He played alto, tenor and soprano saxophones and contributed vocals; his father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., has also performed with the Kimmel house band, making the program a multigenerational engagement for the family.
Analysis & Implications
Escobedo’s death removes a familiar on-screen presence from a major network late-night program and highlights how personal relationships shape television production. House bandleaders are often both musical leaders and part of a show’s identity; Escobedo’s decades-long role helped define the sound and persona of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and his absence will be felt by viewers and production staff alike.
For the show’s audience, the loss underscores the emotional ties that can exist between hosts, staff and recurring performers. Kimmel’s public remarks framed Escobedo first as a close friend and family figure, not merely a hired musician, which will shape how the program and fans remember him in the near term.
Operationally, late-night productions rely on ensembles and backstage specialists; replacing a bandleader involves both musical and interpersonal considerations. Producers may rotate musicians for upcoming shows while deciding whether to dedicate future episodes to Escobedo’s memory, invite guest musicians, or make longer-term staffing changes.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Year / Age |
|---|---|
| Met Jimmy Kimmel (Las Vegas) | January 1977 |
| Formed Cleto and the Cletones | 1995 |
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! launch | 2003 |
| Escobedo’s 50th birthday on air | 2016 |
| Age at death | 59 (2025) |
The table places key milestones alongside years to show Escobedo’s long arc from childhood friend to national television bandleader. Those dates illustrate a music career spanning at least three decades and a broadcast tenure of more than 20 years.
Reactions & Quotes
“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man… Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old.”
Jimmy Kimmel (Instagram)
Kimmel’s Instagram message combined grief with a personal history, asking followers to keep Escobedo’s immediate family in their prayers and calling attention to their decades-long bond.
“He trusted me with this job, and I’ve tried to do the best I can.”
Cleto Escobedo III (ABC7, 2013)
In a 2013 interview, Escobedo reflected on Kimmel’s decision to make him bandleader and framed the role as a responsibility he worked to honor, highlighting the mutual trust behind the hire.
“Personal reason” linked to a recent cancellation of the program.
Variety (Entertainment media)
Variety reported that the show’s brief cancellation for a Thursday episode was tied to a “personal reason” and later connected that situation to Escobedo’s condition; however, family statements regarding cause of death remain pending.
Unconfirmed
- The specific medical cause of Cleto Escobedo III’s death has not been publicly released as of this report.
- Details about the timing and circumstances around the condition that prompted the Thursday episode cancellation remain private and unverified.
Bottom Line
Cleto Escobedo III’s passing at 59 removes a long-serving musical leader and a close personal friend from the Jimmy Kimmel Live! family. His decades-long partnership with Jimmy Kimmel—from childhood neighbors in Las Vegas to professional collaborators—shaped both the program’s sound and the host’s on-air world.
In the short term, the show and its audience will look for ways to honor Escobedo’s life and work, and producers will make interim adjustments to the band. Longer term, decisions about the band’s leadership and how the program memorializes Escobedo will determine how his contribution is preserved in the show’s legacy.