Cleto Escobedo III, the leader of the Jimmy Kimmel Live! band Cleto and the Cletones, died at age 59 on Tuesday morning. The tragic news was announced by Kimmel via social media on Tuesday afternoon.
“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” stated Kimmel on Instagram. “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old.”
He added, “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.”
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As Kimmel mentioned, he and Escobedo were lifelong friends. The saxophonist led the late-night show’s house band since the TV program’s inception in 2003, and co-wrote the theme song along with Les Pierce and Jonathan Kimmel. Among the members of Cleto and the Cletones is Escobedo’s father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., also a saxophonist.
In addition to leading Cleto and the Cletones, Escobedo toured or performed live with the likes of Paula Abdul and Marc Anthony.
Our condolences go out to Cleto Escobedo III’s family, friends, and bandmates during this difficult time.