Cleto Escobedodarling Jimmy Kimmel Live! Bandleader of Cleto and the Cretones passed away on November 11, 2025. He passed away at the age of 59. jimmy kimmel He broke the news in a heartbreaking statement, encouraging people to “cherish our friend and keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”
“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician, and human being, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” Kimmel wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of Escobedo on stage. “To say we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since we were nine years old, and the fact that we get to work together every day is a dream neither of us ever imagined would come true.”
Below, learn what happened to Cleto and the beloved bandleader on Kimmel’s show.
What happened to Cleto Escobedo?
Kimmel did not elaborate on what happened to his friend and bandleader Escobedo.
How did Cleto Escobedo die?
At the time of publication, it is still unclear how Escobedo died. In his announcement, Kimmel only noted that Escobedo passed away on the morning of November 11, 2025.
What did the Cretonians say about Creto’s death?
This band, in which Escobedo’s father also participates, Cleto Escobedo Sr., Jeff Babko, Toshi Yanagi, Jimmy Earle and Jonathan Dresserhas not publicly addressed the lead musician’s death at the time of publication.
How long have Jimmy Kimmel and bandleader Cleto known each other?
As previously mentioned, Kimmel and Escobedo have known each other since childhood. The late saxophonist grew up near the comedian in Las Vegas.
Kimmel called Escobedo a “prodigy” and recalled his friend’s immense talent in 2015. “The whole school would come out to watch. He got a standing ovation. It was crazy,” Kimmel said in 2015, ABC7 reported.
Escobedo has since become a professional musician, touring with talents such as Earth, Wind & Fire. Paula Abdul and mark anthony. This led to an appearance on Kimmel’s late-night talk show in 2003.
“And I thought, oh my god, you know what? I have a talk show. Cleto has to be my bandleader,” Kimmel previously said, per ABC7, recalling how “nervous” he was when Disney told him, “We don’t want your friend to be our bandleader.”
“So I took the president of ABC to see his band perform, and he loved it,” Kimmel said. “Obviously, I wanted a great musician, but I also wanted someone with chemistry. And there’s no one in my life with more chemistry than him.”
