Cleto Escobedo III, the longtime bandleader of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and Jimmy Kimmel’s best friend for nearly 50 years, passed away early Tuesday morning, November 11, 2025. He was 59 years old. The loss marks the end of one of television’s most extraordinary partnerships, a 22-year run that transformed a childhood friendship into entertainment history.
Kimmel shared the devastating news on Instagram, writing: “Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III. To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine 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.”
The official cause of Escobedo’s death has not been publicly disclosed. However, he’d been absent from the show for several months due to illness. His condition took a serious turn in early November, prompting Kimmel to abruptly cancel the November 6 episode to be by his friend’s side. That Thursday show, which was scheduled to feature David Duchovny, Joe Keery, and Madison Beer, was scrapped so Kimmel could spend precious final moments with Escobedo.
The show returned to air on Monday, November 10, just one day before Escobedo’s passing.
A Friendship That Started in Las Vegas
Born August 23, 1966, in Las Vegas, Escobedo grew up surrounded by music. His father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., was a veteran saxophonist who had performed with the 1960s soul-rock band Los Blues at the Sahara Hotel’s Casbar Lounge for nearly six years. Music wasn’t just in the household, it was practically in his DNA.
The friendship that would define both their lives began in January 1977. That’s when 9-year-old Jimmy Kimmel’s family moved from Brooklyn to Las Vegas, settling across the street from the Escobedo family. The two boys clicked instantly, bonding over pranks, comedy, and a shared devotion to David Letterman’s late-night show.
“We just met one day on the street, and there were a few kids on the street, and him and I just became really close friends,” Escobedo recalled in a 2022 oral history interview. “We just became pals, and we’ve been pals ever since.”
Their childhood was filled with the kind of adventures that create lifelong bonds. Escobedo would drive Kimmel around in a bicycle sidecar, deliberately steering into garbage cans and bushes. There were BB gun escapades, mooning people from the back of Kimmel’s mother’s car, and the memorable time Escobedo glued the steering column on Kimmel’s wooden go-kart, sending him careening into traffic. But even amid the typical boyish chaos, Escobedo’s musical talent was undeniable. Kimmel described him as a “child prodigy” who would draw the entire school to watch his saxophone performances.
From Bar Gigs to World Tours
After graduating high school, Escobedo briefly attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but the pull of professional music proved irresistible. He left college to join Santa Fe (later Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns), launching what would become a diverse and successful career.
His big break came in an unexpected way. Paula Abdul discovered him playing saxophone in a small bar at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Despite his lack of touring experience, she immediately hired him for her first world tour in the late 1980s. “His talent and energy were undeniable,” Abdul later wrote in tribute, “and he went on to have an amazing career.”
In 1995, Escobedo formed Cleto and the Cletones with a core lineup that would stick together for decades. The band became a fixture in the Los Angeles music scene, known for their versatility across rock, funk, R&B, and jazz. He toured with major acts including Marc Anthony and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Phillip Bailey, recorded with artists like Tom Scott and Take Six, and performed on countless commercial jingles throughout Los Angeles.
Throughout these years, Kimmel remained a loyal supporter, attending Escobedo’s gigs whenever possible. That loyalty would prove foundational when everything changed with a single phone call. “I think I was in Atlanta, and Jimmy called and said ‘Hey man, I think I’m gonna have this show. Do you wanna be my bandleader?'” Escobedo recounted in 2021. “Of course I was like ‘Yes.’ It’s been the best gig ever.”
When “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” premiered on ABC in 2003, Kimmel had to convince network executives that his childhood friend, not an established name, should lead the house band. He personally took ABC President Lloyd Braun to see the Cletones perform, and the chemistry was undeniable.
“Of course I wanted great musicians, but I wanted somebody I had chemistry with,” Kimmel explained in 2015. “And there’s nobody in my life I have better chemistry with than him.”
Escobedo remained deeply grateful for that trust. “I always thank him for this gig because he could have tried to get somebody that was established and would help the show more, being a bigger name or whatever. But he trusted me with this job, and I’ve tried to do the best I can.”
The story took an even more remarkable turn when Kimmel suggested adding Escobedo’s father to the band. Cleto Escobedo Jr. had quit professional music in 1972 after Los Blues disbanded, working for over 30 years as a butler at Caesars Palace to provide stability for his family. Kimmel’s invitation brought him back to the stage.
“Jimmy just said, ‘Hey, man, what about your dad? Wouldn’t that be kind of cool?’ I was like, ‘That would be way cool,'” Escobedo recalled. For nearly two decades, father and son performed together on national television. “What dad doesn’t want to be playing along musically with their son?” the elder Escobedo said in 2013. “It’s a great, great feeling.”
For 22 years, Escobedo’s warmth, humor, and musical excellence became synonymous with the show. Playing alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones, and occasionally singing during comedy bits, he infused the program with spontaneity and genuine joy. His decision to take the Kimmel job over continued touring reflected his values. “Touring and all that stuff is fun, but it’s more of a young man’s game,” he explained. “Touring, also, too, is not really conducive for family life.”
Outpouring of Tributes
The music and entertainment world responded with an overwhelming wave of tributes. Paula Abdul honored the musician who helped launch her tours: “Cleto was pure light and soul, both on and off stage. Sending so much love to his family and everyone who loved him.”
Sheila E., who had been friends with Escobedo since producing a song on his 1995 album, wrote: “I’m so heartbroken there are no words. My prayers go out to his wife and kids, Jimmy Kimmel, family and friends. You will be missed. I love u rest well.”
Actor Adam Scott called him “such a kind, talented guy who will be sorely missed.” Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Wanda Sykes, Howie Mandel, Jeffrey Ross, Johnny Knoxville, and Ike Barinholtz all shared condolences. A commenter on Deadline captured what many felt: “This is so sad. Cleto was one of the good guys. I knew him before the Kimmel show and he remained as humble and generous as he was before.”
Escobedo is survived by his wife Lori, two children, including Cleto Escobedo IV and Jesse Gean, his parents, and his father Cleto Escobedo Jr., who shared the stage with him for two decades.
While industry estimates suggest his net worth was between $2 million and $4 million, coming from decades of work as a touring musician, recording artist, television bandleader, and session player, no official financial information has been disclosed.
However, those who knew him understood that his true wealth couldn’t be measured in dollars. It was measured in the relationships he built, the music he created, and the joy he brought to millions of viewers every night.
His last known public appearance was February 22, 2025, at the Keep Memory Alive “Power of Love” gala at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, an event honoring Jimmy Kimmel. He was also seen at Game 2 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium with Kimmel on October 25, 2024.
