Group
Cleto and the Cletones
- From
- Hollywood, United States
- Since
- 1995–present
- Releases
- 0
About
Cleto Valentine Escobedo III (August 23, 1966 – November 11, 2025) was an American musician and bandleader. He led Cleto and the Cletones, the house band for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, appearing on the show from its inception in 2003 until his death in 2025. Escobedo began his career touring with Paula Abdul and Marc Anthony before joining the late-night show.
Members
-
Jeff Babko keyboard
-
Jonathan Dresel drums (drum set)
-
Jimmy Earl bass guitar
-
Cleto Escobedo, Jr. alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
-
Toshi Yanagi guitar
-
Cleto Escobedo III soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, lead vocals
Links
Reference
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- e4b10bb5-8db4-4864-aae6-8d49fff54248
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 12 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.