Jimmy Kimmel Mourns Death of Lifelong Friend and Band Leader Cleto Escobedo III

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is grieving the loss of his longtime friend and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” bandleader Cleto Escobedo III, who died this week at the age of 59. According to The Associated Press , Kimmel announced…

Andrew PowellNov 11, 20253 min read

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Escobedo went on to become a professional saxophonist, touring with major artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire’s Phillip Bailey and Paula Abdul, and recording with Marc Anthony, Tom Scott, and Take Six. When Kimmel launched Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2003, he immediately brought Escobedo aboard as his bandleader.

“Of course I wanted great musicians, but I wanted somebody I had chemistry with,” Kimmel told WABC in 2015. “And there’s nobody in my life I have better chemistry with than him.”

Escobedo’s father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., also became part of the house band, playing tenor and alto saxophones alongside his son. The father-son duo celebrated nearly 20 years of performing together on the show in 2022.

In that same interview, Escobedo said his time with the show allowed him to prioritize family life. “Touring and all that stuff is fun, but it’s more of a young man’s game,” he said. “Being on the road and watching how hard it is, leaving your kids for so long … it’s like, ‘What?’”

Kimmel often celebrated their friendship publicly, once dedicating a 2016 segment to Escobedo’s 50th birthday and retelling stories from their childhood—like Escobedo’s “side hack” bike that he used to drive his friend into garbage cans for laughs.

The cause of Escobedo’s death has not been released. His survivors include his wife, Lori, and their two children.

Last Thursday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! was abruptly canceled following the news.