Jimmy Kimmel Live! Bandleader Cleto Escobedo III Dies at 59
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A beloved figure in late-night television, Cleto Escobedo III, the longtime bandleader for ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, has passed away. He was 59 years old.
Escobedo died early Tuesday, according to a statement shared by Kimmel on Instagram. the news has sent ripples of grief through the entertainment industry and beyond, marking the loss of a gifted musician and a cherished friend.
A Lifelong Friendship
The connection between Escobedo and Kimmel extended far beyond the television studio. The pair where neighbors growing up in Las Vegas, forging a bond that Kimmel described as unbreakable. “We have been inseparable as I was nine years old,” Kimmel wrote. “The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true.” Kimmel asked that friends and fans “cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”
From Las Vegas Roots to National Stage
Born August 23, 1966, in las Vegas, escobedo came from a musical family. His father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., is also a musician and played saxophone for the 1960s rock/soul band Los Blues, and later joined the Cletones when they became the house band for Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Escobedo briefly attended the University of Nevada-Las Vegas after graduating high school before embarking on a professional music career.
He first gained prominence as a member of the band Santa Fe and later toured with Paula Abdul. In 1995,Escobedo formed Cleto and the Cletones,featuring guitarist Toshi Yanagi,bassist Jimmy Earl,keyboard player Jeff Babko,and drummer Jonathan Dresel. The band became a fixture on Jimmy kimmel Live! when the show debuted in 2003.
A Legacy of Music and Laughter
Beyond his work with Kimmel,Escobedo’s musical talents were sought after by other prominent artists. He toured with Philip Bailey of earth, Wind and Fire and Marc Anthony, and contributed to numerous television commercials.
Kimmel fondly recalled their childhood antics, joking about a friendship “highlighted by the kind of torture that only best friends can inflict.” this playful dynamic underscored the depth and longevity of their relationship.
Kimmel is expected to address Escobedo’s passing on Tuesday’s episode of Jimmy kimmel Live!. The loss of Cleto Escobedo III represents a profound sadness for all who knew him, leaving behind a legacy of musical talent, enduring friendship, and countless moments of laughter.
