Cleto Escobedo III

Cleto Escobedo III, the consummate saxophonist, bandleader and longtime house-band musical director for the late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," died November 11, 2025, at the age of 59.

Mr. Escobedo was born August 23, 1966, in Las Vegas. He and host Jimmy Kimmel first met as children when Kimmel's family moved across the street from the Escobedo family in Las Vegas. Their friendship endured for decades, eventually evolving into a professional collaboration.

Escobedo's musical career began early: following in his father's footsteps, he embraced the saxophone as a young teenager. Before his late-night TV role, he toured with major artists including Paula Abdul and Marc Anthony.

With the debut of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in 2003, Kimmel tapped his childhood friend to assemble and lead the house band, known as Cleto and the Cletones. Escobedo guided the band nightly for more than two decades, bringing jazz, funk, rock and soulful horn-driven energy to the show's musical backbone. His father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., also played in the band, making their collaboration a rare family musical pairing on national television.

Kimmel remembered his friend on Instagram, writing, "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." In a monologue on the show on the night of Escobedo's death, Kimmel broke down in tears, paying tribute to their shared childhood in Las Vegas and their decades of work together.

Escobedo's passing leaves a void in the late-night music world. He is survived by his wife, Lori, and their two children; his parents; and his many bandmates and collaborators. His music will continue to resonate nightly, on-air and in performance halls alike.

By Legacy News Staff

(Image: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)