Jimmy Kimmel Announces Death of Longtime Bandleader Cleto Escobedo III at 59

Cleto Escobedo III, the saxophonist and musical director who led the house band on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for more than two decades, died Tuesday morning, according to an announcement from show host Jimmy Kimmel. Escobedo was 59. The comedian shared the news in a social-media post, calling his childhood friend a “great father, son, musician and man.” No cause of death was disclosed.

Kimmel’s statement explained that his bond with Escobedo stretched back to 1977, when Kimmel’s family moved to Las Vegas and the two became neighbors. That friendship later evolved into a professional partnership when Kimmel launched his late-night program on ABC in 2003 and invited Escobedo to assemble and lead the studio ensemble now known to viewers as Cleto and the Cletones.

The host wrote that performing together on television was a shared aspiration the pair never expected to fulfill. He also asked the public to keep Escobedo’s wife, children and parents in their thoughts. ABC News said it had requested additional comment from Kimmel’s representatives but had received no further details as of Tuesday afternoon.

Escobedo’s death comes less than nine months after he appeared alongside Kimmel at the Keep Memory Alive “Power of Love” gala in Las Vegas on Feb. 22, 2025. That event honored Kimmel for his philanthropic work and featured a performance by Cleto and the Cletones, underscoring Escobedo’s ongoing visibility on and off the late-night stage.

Born in Las Vegas in 1966, Escobedo began playing saxophone as a child and later built a reputation on the regional club circuit. During a 2021 segment on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” he told the program’s security guard-turned-interviewer Guillermo Rodriguez that he was touring in Atlanta when Kimmel phoned to offer him the bandleader role. Escobedo said he accepted immediately, describing the gig as the best of his career.

In addition to nightly duties on the show—where the Cletones provide walk-on music, commercial bumpers and occasional featured performances—Escobedo contributed to on-air comedy bits and milestone celebrations. When the musician marked his 50th birthday in 2016, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” aired archival photos and home-video footage highlighting the duo’s early years. Kimmel told the audience at the time that the segment was both a personal tribute and an illustration of how their long friendship had shaped the program’s atmosphere.

Imagem: Internet

The Cletones’ lineup has included members of Escobedo’s own family, further intertwining his personal and professional worlds. Over the years, the band backed a broad range of guest artists, reflecting Escobedo’s versatility across genres from funk to jazz. Industry observers have often cited the ensemble’s flexibility as a key component of the show’s live energy; Variety once noted that Cleto and the Cletones “set an adaptable musical tone that guests gravitate toward.” The entertainment trade publication has also credited Escobedo with helping to modernize the traditional late-night house-band format.

Escobedo is survived by his wife, two children and his parents. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. ABC has not indicated how “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will handle band duties in upcoming episodes, and the network has yet to release a formal statement beyond Kimmel’s personal note. Additional information, including memorial plans and the cause of death, is expected when the family and producers provide further updates.

Crédito da imagem: Ethan Miller/Getty Images