Who Is Cleto Escobedo? What to Know About Jimmy Kimmel's Late Friend

Jimmy Kimmel announced on Tuesday, November 11, that his longtime friend and show bandleader Cleto Escobedo III died at the age of 59.

“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” the talk show host, 57, wrote in a statement shared via Instagram. “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement.”

Kimmel called working with his childhood pal on Jimmy Kimmel Live! “a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true.”

He concluded by telling his followers, “Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”

Scroll down to learn more about Escobedo:

Jimmy Kimmel and Cleto Escobedo III Have Been Friends for Decades

The comedian revealed on Tuesday that he and Cleto Escobedo III have been “inseparable since I was 9 years old.” Jimmy Kimmel and Escobedo grew up in the same neighborhood as kids in Las Vegas after Kimmel moved there in 1977.

“We began a lifetime of friendship that was highlighted by the kind of torture that only an older brother can inflict on you without being arrested,” Kimmel joked on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2016 when Escobedo turned 50. He recalled times where Escobedo would put him in the sidecar of his bike and “drive me directly into a garbage can” along with other shenanigans.

Escobedo, meanwhile, shared a throwback photo of the pair in November 2018 in honor of Kimmel’s birthday. In the snap, the duo appeared to be at a garage sale with two older ladies.

Cleto Escobedo III Led the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Band

Escobedo’s band, Cleto and the Cletones, has been part of Jimmy Kimmel Live! since the talk show’s 2003 debut — a vision Kimmel had from the start.

“I was nervous, because I thought they’d say, ‘We don’t want your friend to be the band leader,’” Kimmel told ABC7 in 2015 of how Escobedo landed the gig. “So, I took the president of ABC [Lloyd Braun] to see him play with his band, and he loved it.”

Escobedo, meanwhile, knew once Kimmel called about the job that he “had to be very versatile.” He told International Musician in 2018 he had to be able to “play every kind of music and play things on the fly” to keep the gig.

Cleto Escobedo III Was a Touring Musician

Prior to working for Kimmel, Escobedo had his own record deal. He formed Cleto and the Cletones in 1995 with guitarist Toshi Yangagi, bassist Jimmy Earl, keyboard player Jeff Babko and drummer Jonathan Dresel. His father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., later joined the group after playing saxophone in a 1960s rock and soul band.

Escobedo tours with artists like Earth, Wind and Fire, Paula Abdul and Marc Anthony before becoming the bandleader for Live!

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Cleto Escobedo III Is the Father of 2

Prior to his death, Escobedo welcomed two children, daughter Jesse and son Cruz.

“I love a lot of people on this earth, but this little girl changed my life when she came into this world ten years ago,” the proud dad wrote via Instagram in May 2019 on his daughter’s birthday. “I never REALLY knew what love was ‘till you looked at me. You ARE my world Jesse! Happy birthday my precious girl!!!! Happy 10th birthday!!! Love, Daddy.”

In July 2021, Escobedo shared a tribute to his son, writing via Instagram, “Happy Birthday to our boy!! We love you so much!!”