Cleto Escobedo III, ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Bandleader, Dies at 59

Cleto Escobedo III, the longtime bandleader and saxophonist for Jimmy Kimmel Live, co-creator of the late-night staple’s theme tune, and best friend of its host, has died at the age of 59.

Kimmel broke the sad news on his social accounts, and gave a teary farewell to his good friend Tuesday night (Nov. 11) during his regular show. “Early this morning,” he writes on Instagram, “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. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”

The cause of death has not been revealed, though Page 6 reports Escobedo was hospitalized last week, with Kimmel canceling his Thursday episode to be by his side.

Born Aug. 23, 1966 in Las Vegas, NV, Escobedo’s group, Cleto and the Cletones, has been the house band for Jimmy Kimmel Live! since the show’s inception in 2003.

Escobedo and Kimmel, however, go way back. The pair hit it off as kids, when Kimmel’s family moved to Sin City back in 1977, directly across the street, two houses over from a young Escobedo.  

Kimmel was unable to hold back the tears, and he told of his best friend’s passing at the very top of Tuesday night’s Live. “We’ve been on the air for almost 23 years and I’ve had to do some hard monologues along the way. But this one’s the hardest,” he remarked.

They weren’t just friends. They were 24/7 besties, enjoying countless sleepovers, crank calls, backyard ballgames, and “we definitely gave each other many concussions,” he recounted.

Across 22 minutes, Kimmel told hilarious tales of youthful pranks, parties, bad advice, and much more, the lived stuff that occurs only when two people live out of each other’s pockets.

“We loved all the same things. Baseball, fishing, boxing, [Muhammad] Ali, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Woody Allen, Michael McDonald, Huey Lewis, Stevie Wonder, and most of all, we loved David Letterman,” he admitted. “We never missed David Letterman. And the first time I was on the [Late Show with David Letterman] was 1999. It was a really big deal for both of us. That afternoon before the show, I was so nervous. I was walking in New York City, just walking fast, trying to burn off the nervous energy, and I called him just so we could be amazed together that this was happening and it was an amazing thing.”

As a saxophone player, he was nothing short of “phenomenal,” Kimmel enthused. “He was a child prodigy who would get standing ovations in junior high school, if you can imagine that.” Escobedo was a chip off the old block; his dad, too was a sax player in a band, but he called time on touring to spend more time with his family. “When Cleto junior became a professional musician, Cleto senior was thrilled, he got to live vicariously through his son,” Kimmel said. They’d become bandmates, too.

Junior enjoyed an early breakthrough with Paula Abdul, initially performing with the pop star then joining her label’s roster. Later, Kimmel pitched the late-night show to ABC, with Escobedo and his father auditioning together for the gig. It was a winning formula.

“I’ve often said that the single best thing about doing this show was getting the opportunity to allow Cleto senior to pick up where he left off in 1966 and become a musician again with his son,” he remarked.

Cleto’s parents, who were watching on, were, for 47 years, like his own folks. Only they never yelled at Kimmel, he quipped.

“Cherish your friends, we’re not here forever,” Kimmel explained, through tears. Live will take a break for several days to allow its leader and team time to grieve. Watch Kimmel’s eulogy below.