In a world where most late-night relationships stay behind the curtain, one bond always shined brighter than the studio lights: Jimmy Kimmel and Cleto Escobedo III. For more than 20 years, Cleto wasn’t just the bandleader of Jimmy Kimmel Live! — he was Jimmy’s childhood best friend, his partner in mischief, and the heartbeat of the show.

When the news broke that Cleto had passed away at just 59, the entertainment world stopped. Fans didn’t just lose a musician… they lost a piece of the show’s soul.

Jimmy’s tribute said everything:
“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man… Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old.”
Not coworkers. Not colleagues. Family.

From riding around Vegas as kids in a ridiculous bike sidecar, to pulling pranks that only lifelong friends could get away with, their story was something rare — a bond that followed them from childhood chaos all the way to network television.

So when Jimmy Kimmel Live! launched in 2003, there was never a question who would lead the band. Jimmy fought for Cleto — and ABC didn’t hesitate once they heard him play. What followed became late-night history:
Cleto and the Cletones, delivering music, warmth, and a vibe no other show could match.

Cleto wasn’t just talented — he was born into music. The son of a musician, he spent his early years watching his father perform, tears in his eyes from the beauty of it all. That same passion carried him across the world, touring with icons like Earth, Wind & Fire and Marc Anthony long before he ever took the late-night stage.

And then came something truly special: his father, Cleto Jr., joined the show too. A father-son duo playing together on national TV every night — the only one in late-night history. Their love for music, and for each other, was felt in every note.

Cleto was more than a bandleader.
More than a musician.
More than a fixture on TV.

He was a friend who became a brother.
A father.
A son.
A spirit who brought joy to millions without ever needing a spotlight.

His loss leaves a space that can’t be filled — not on stage, not in Jimmy’s life, not in the hearts of the fans who felt like they knew him.

But his legacy?
It plays on.

In every laugh he shared with Jimmy.
In every song he played beside his dad.
In every night he brought warmth to a world that needed it.

Rest easy, Cleto Escobedo III.
Your music lives on… and so does the love you left behind. 🎶💛