Cleto and the Cletones
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Cleto and the Cletones | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | United Artists |
| Members | Cleto Escobedo Jr. Jeff Babko Toshi Yanagi Jimmy Earl Jonathan Dresel |
| Past members | Cleto Escobedo III (deceased) |
Cleto and the Cletones is the American house band on the ABC-TV late-night television program, Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003–present).[1]
Overview
[edit]Cleto Escobedo III was the leader of the sextet, and played the alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones on the show, as well as occasionally singing both on camera and off (for comedy bits and other musical segments). He grew up as a neighbor of host Jimmy Kimmel in Las Vegas; after briefly attending UNLV, he joined the band Santa Fe (now Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns).[2]
On November 11, 2025, Kimmel announced via Instagram that his longtime bandleader and friend Cleto Escobedo III had died that day at the age of 59.[3][4]
Collaborations
[edit]Cleto Escobedo III, Cleto Escobedo Jr. and Jeff Babko made a guest appearance on Lazlo Bane's album Guilty Pleasures.
Discography
[edit]- Los Blues Volume One Cleto The Cletones Jimmy Kimmel LP[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Cleto and the Cletones: Late Night Family Demands Respect". International Musician. 2018-08-04. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
- ^ Mauch, Ally (2021-10-08). "Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s Guillermo Rodriguez Recalls How He Landed on the Show 18 Years Ago". People. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ Moore, Julia; Esquibias, Liza (November 11, 2025). "Jimmy Kimmel's Lifelong Friend and 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Band Leader Cleto Escobedo Dies at 59: 'We Are Heartbroken'". People.com.
- ^ Deb, Sopan (2025-11-11). "Cleto Escobedo III, Jimmy Kimmel's Bandleader, Dies at 59". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
- ^ "vinyl-renaissance.com". www.vinyl-renaissance.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
External links
[edit]| Authority control databases: Artists |
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