Cleto Valentine Escobedo III was an American bandleader and musician. From the beginning of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2003 until his passing in 2025, he led Cleto and the Cletones, the house band. Before joining the late-night show, Escobedo started his career touring with Marc Anthony and Paula Abdul.
Cleto Escobedo III Biography
| Real Name | Cleto Valentine Escobedo III |
| Nick Name | Cleto Escobedo III |
| Affair/Girlfriend | Lori |
| Famous As | American Bandleader |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Profession | musician |
Family Details
| Father | N/A |
| Mother | N/A |
| Siblings | N/A |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife Name | Lori |
| Children | Two Children |
Physical Appearance
| Height | 180 cm |1.80meters |6 Feet |
| Weight | In Kg –101 kg | 223 lbs |
| Age (2025) | 59-year-old |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Brown |
| Shoe Size | 8 U.S |
| Body Measurements | – |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
Personal Details
| Birth Place | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A |
| Date Of Birth | 23 Aug 1966 |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Date Of Death | November 11, 2025 |
| Couse Of Death | Illness |
| Gender | Male |
| Residence | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| School | High School |
| University/College | University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
| Education Qualification | Graduate |
| Genres | Jazz, Funk, Rock |
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Career
Escobedo performed all over Las Vegas before appearing on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show. He toured with Paula Abdul in 1990 to promote her album Forever Your Girl, and he went on to play with Marc Anthony and other musicians. Escobedo, who had previously collaborated with Kimmel on the Comedy Central series The Man Show, received an invitation to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2003 while on tour with Anthony. Before receiving the offer, Escobedo was thinking about quitting music; thus the request came at a perfect moment.
During his tenure on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Escobedo collaborated with musicians such as Jimmy Vivino of Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Paul Shaffer, bandleader of Late Night with David Letterman; he co-wrote the show’s theme song in 2003 with Kimmel’s brother Jonathan and Les Pierce; he also joined other late-night television musicians in pushing for networks to compensate musicians for YouTube appearances.
Family Detail
Cleto Escobedo’s family consists of his parents, whose names are unknown. There is no information available about his siblings.
Social Media Profile
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| Wikipedia | Click Here |
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Death / Age
After several months of sickness, Escobedo passed away on November 11, 2025, at the age of 59. Kimmel eulogised Escobedo in that evening’s monologue after announcing his passing on social media.
Wife/ Children
Lori was Escobedo’s wife. The couple and their two kids resided in Studio City.
FAQ About Cleto Escobedo
Who was Jimmy Kimmel’s band leader?
Cleto Escobedo III
Who was Cleto Escobedo III?
a saxophonist whose childhood friendship with the comedian Jimmy Kimmel led to a decades-long role as the leader of the house band on Mr. Kimmel’s late night show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Who was Cleto to Jimmy Kimmel?
Cleto Escobedo III
Conclusion
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In this post, we have provided information about Cleto Escobedo – Age, Wife, Height, Death, Bio
