Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime bandleader and childhood friend, Cleto Escobedo III, has died at 59. Their bond went beyond work, spanning decades of shared memories, laughter, and music. Kimmel shared the news on November 11, 2025: “Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III.” Reflecting on their lifelong friendship, he said, “Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true.”

Their friendship began in Las Vegas, where childhood pranks and playful antics created lasting memories. Kimmel recalled, “Cleto had a bicycle with a sidecar attached to it. We called it the side hack… Cleto would drive me directly into garbage cans and bushes.” Their mischievous humor continued into adulthood, with Kimmel calling Cleto “a brother in every sense of the word.”

Cleto’s musical journey began early, inspired by his father, Cleto Escobedo Jr. “I distinctly remember my dad was playing in Hawaii… I used to get teared up watching my dad play,” he said. By college, Cleto was performing across Las Vegas and later toured internationally with Paula Abdul, Earth, Wind & Fire, Luis Miguel, and Marc Anthony.

Joining Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2003, he led Cleto and the Cletones, creating a signature sound that combined humor and music. Kimmel said, “Cleto was not just a bandleader; he was family. He was a brother.” Cleto often shared the stage with his father, adding a rare father-son dynamic to late-night TV.

Survived by his wife Lori, children Cruz and Jesse, and his parents, Cleto’s legacy of friendship, music, and laughter will be remembered by millions.