Cleto Escobedo III, “Cleto and the Cletones” Bandleader on Late-Night TV, Dies at 59

Cleto Escobedo III, saxophonist, musical director, and the on-air bandleader best known for guiding Cleto and the Cletones since the 2003 launch of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, died Tuesday at age 59. His passing was announced on social media by the host, who described the loss as deeply personal as well as professional. A cause of death was not immediately shared.

A Lifelong Friendship That Became Late-Night DNA

Escobedo and the late-night host grew up across the street from one another in Las Vegas, a bond that later shaped the tone and texture of the show’s music. When the program premiered, he was an unconventional but instinctive choice as bandleader—equal parts virtuoso and vibe-setter. Over more than two decades, Escobedo’s quick tonal shifts, playful cues, and seamless handoffs with the control room became part of the show’s rhythm, from cold open to closing credits.

A distinctive element of the house band was its family core: Escobedo’s father, Cleto Escobedo Sr., often joined the ensemble, giving late night one of its rare father-and-son band pairings and reinforcing the show’s lived-in, neighborhood feel.

Beyond the Desk: A Working Musician’s Resume

Before late-night television made him a nightly presence, Escobedo built a career as a touring and session saxophonist, moving fluidly across pop, R&B, and Latin styles. He logged time on the road and in studios with platinum artists, sharpened his arranging toolkit, and learned the practical logistics of keeping a big show on time—skills that translated directly to a live, joke-a-minute broadcast.

On “Cleto and the Cletones,” he favored tight horn voicings and sly genre pivots, threading funk, soul, and desert-west swagger into walk-ons and bumpers. The band’s flexibility—ready for a surprise guest jam one night and a precision pre-tape the next—reflected his read-and-react leadership.

The Sound of a Show

In an era when many programs trimmed or sidelined house bands, Escobedo defended the idea that live music is a narrative tool, not just interlude. Under his direction, cues often served as punchlines, callbacks, or emotional resets. A half-bar stab could button a monologue; a silky vamp could smooth a desk segment gone gloriously off the rails. That sensibility helped the band become a character in its own right.

Family, Colleagues, and a Community in Mourning

Tributes from collaborators and crew highlighted Escobedo’s combination of technical command and steady kindness—the bandleader who could call a last-second key change without raising his voice, the colleague who met rookies where they were, the friend who made the green room feel like a living room. Off camera, he was a husband and father who often pointed to the job’s schedule—home in the early evenings more than a touring player—as a gift that let him remain present with family.

Impact on the Show and What Happens Next

With production schedules mapped months in advance, the immediate practical questions revolve around how the show will honor Escobedo and steward the band through a period of grief. Expect on-air remembrances, archival performances, and a measured pace as producers balance tribute with day-to-day broadcast demands. Any permanent decision about musical leadership will come later; the near term is about giving colleagues and family space to mourn.

A Career in Scenes

• Las Vegas beginnings: Neighborhood jam sessions and school bands laid the foundation for a horn player with a strong melodic ear.

• Road years: National tours and studio dates forged professional instincts—show up prepared, read the room, make it feel easy.

• 2003 breakthrough: “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” premieres; Cleto and the Cletones become fixtures of the format.

• Two decades of live TV: Theme revamps, special episodes, and countless guest sit-ins showcase range without losing identity.

• Enduring partnership: A friendship translated into a broadcast language millions understood without explanation.

Why Cleto Escobedo Mattered

Escobedo’s legacy is larger than a nightly gig. He helped prove that a house band can shape mood, pace, and personality—that music on television isn’t just filler but a form of storytelling. He modeled a kind of leadership rare in spotlight jobs: calm, collaborative, ego-light, relentlessly musical. For viewers, the blue-note wink and horn-section grin were part of why the show felt human.

Remembering the Music

Fans looking back will find a catalog hidden in plain sight: walk-on riffs that morphed into memes, one-night-only arrangements for surprise guests, and tender cues under monologues that needed a softer landing. It’s the kind of legacy that lives in moments as much as milestones—exactly how live television, at its best, writes itself into memory.

Cleto Escobedo III is survived by his family, bandmates, and an audience that heard his joy every night. Funeral and memorial details were not immediately available.