Kleto Escobedo, the leader of the Jimmy Kimmel Live! orchestra, has passed away
12 november 2025 в 04:13
Cleto Escobedo, beloved orchestra leader of Cleto and the Cletones from the show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, passed away on November 11, 2025. He was 59 years old. Jimmy Kimmel himself announced this in a heartfelt statement, urging others to «cherish their friends and remember Cleto’s wife, children, and parents in their prayers».
«This morning we lost a great friend, father, son, musician, and person, my longtime orchestra leader Cleto Escobedo III», - Kimmel wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of Escobedo on stage. «To say we are shattered is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was 9 years old. The fact that we could work together every day was a dream neither of us could have imagined would come true».
Kimmel did not specify what happened to his friend and orchestra leader, Escobedo.
It is unclear how Escobedo died at the time of publication. Kimmel only noted in his announcement that Escobedo passed away on the morning of November 11, 2025.
The group, which also includes Escobedo’s father, Cleto Escobedo Sr., Jeff Babko, Toshi Yanagi, Jimmy Earl, and Jonathan Dresel, had not publicly discussed their lead musician’s death at the time of publication.
As previously noted, Kimmel and Escobedo had known each other since childhood. The late saxophonist grew up alongside the comedian in Las Vegas.
Describing Escobedo as a «child prodigy», - Kimmel recalled his friend’s immense talent back in 2015. «The whole school gathered to watch. They gave him a standing ovation. It was insane», - Kimmel said in 2015, according to ABC7.
Since Escobedo became a professional musician and toured with talents such as Earth, Wind and Fire, Paula Abdul, and Marc Anthony. This, in turn, helped him secure a place on Kimmel’s show in 2003.
«And I just thought, oh my god, you know? I have a talk show. Cleto should be my orchestra leader», - Kimmel previously said, recalling how «nervous» he was when Disney told him, «We don’t want your friend to be the orchestra leader».
«So I took the president of ABC to see him play with his band, and he fell in love», - Kimmel said. «Of course, I wanted great musicians, but I wanted someone I had chemistry with. And there’s nobody in my life I have better chemistry with than him»
«This morning we lost a great friend, father, son, musician, and person, my longtime orchestra leader Cleto Escobedo III», - Kimmel wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of Escobedo on stage. «To say we are shattered is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was 9 years old. The fact that we could work together every day was a dream neither of us could have imagined would come true».
Kimmel did not specify what happened to his friend and orchestra leader, Escobedo.
It is unclear how Escobedo died at the time of publication. Kimmel only noted in his announcement that Escobedo passed away on the morning of November 11, 2025.
The group, which also includes Escobedo’s father, Cleto Escobedo Sr., Jeff Babko, Toshi Yanagi, Jimmy Earl, and Jonathan Dresel, had not publicly discussed their lead musician’s death at the time of publication.
As previously noted, Kimmel and Escobedo had known each other since childhood. The late saxophonist grew up alongside the comedian in Las Vegas.
Describing Escobedo as a «child prodigy», - Kimmel recalled his friend’s immense talent back in 2015. «The whole school gathered to watch. They gave him a standing ovation. It was insane», - Kimmel said in 2015, according to ABC7.
Since Escobedo became a professional musician and toured with talents such as Earth, Wind and Fire, Paula Abdul, and Marc Anthony. This, in turn, helped him secure a place on Kimmel’s show in 2003.
«And I just thought, oh my god, you know? I have a talk show. Cleto should be my orchestra leader», - Kimmel previously said, recalling how «nervous» he was when Disney told him, «We don’t want your friend to be the orchestra leader».
«So I took the president of ABC to see him play with his band, and he fell in love», - Kimmel said. «Of course, I wanted great musicians, but I wanted someone I had chemistry with. And there’s nobody in my life I have better chemistry with than him»
© Artemenko Olga
