The longtime house band of Jimmy Kimmel Live! has officially changed its name in honor of late bandleader Cleto Escobedo III, who died earlier this month. Previously called Cleto and the Cletones, the group debuted its new name, The Cletones, during Tuesday night’s episode of the ABC late-night show.
The updated name appeared in the program’s opening credits, glowing beneath flashing lights as the show paid subtle tribute to Escobedo’s legacy.
Escobedo, who had been Kimmel’s closest friend since childhood, died Nov. 11 at age 59 from cardiogenic shock. Reports also indicated he faced complications following a liver transplant. Sources said he had been hospitalized shortly before his passing — a situation that led Kimmel to cancel the Nov. 6 episode so he could be by his friend’s side.
After his death, Kimmel shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, writing:
“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III. To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”
Kimmel also delivered an emotional tribute during the Nov. 12 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Fighting back tears, he told the audience, “We’ve been on the air for almost 23 years and I’ve had to do some hard monologues along the way, but this one’s the hardest because late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young to go.”
The host went on to reflect on their lifelong bond, recalling how they first met as young neighbors in Spring Valley, Nevada, back in 1977.
“There was a boy who lived down my block … across the street and two houses over. His name was Cleto, but we all called him Jr.,” Kimmel said, describing their childhood filled with inside jokes, adventures and a shared sense of humor. “We would laugh so hard. We had our own language that almost no one else understood.”
Escobedo served as bandleader on the late-night show from its debut in 2003, becoming a familiar presence to viewers and the heartbeat of Kimmel’s on-air family.
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