After two decades of laughter, music, and friendship, Jimmy Kimmel Live! faced its most heartbreaking loss. Now, the show has made a quiet but permanent change to ensure one man is never forgotten. Cleto Escobedo III’s legacy won’t fade—it will play on every single night, in name and in spirit.

When you’ve been together for over 20 years—through presidential elections, changing late-night landscapes, and personal milestones—it becomes more than a job. It becomes family. For Jimmy Kimmel Live!, that bond was embodied in the nightly presence of Cleto Escobedo III, the show’s bandleader, saxophonist, and lifelong friend to host Jimmy Kimmel.

Cleto’s sudden passing earlier this month left a hole in the show and in the hearts of those who worked alongside him—and those who welcomed him into their homes every night.

Now, the show has announced a touching, permanent tribute: going forward, the house band will be known simply as “The Cletones”—a subtle but powerful nod to Cleto’s enduring presence and a way to ensure his name remains woven into the rhythm of every single episode.

🎶 From Cleto and the Cletones to The Cletones

Since Jimmy Kimmel Live! first aired in 2003, the band was known as “Cleto and the Cletones.” It wasn’t just a name—it was a statement. Cleto led the band with musicality, charisma, and a warmth that made even the sharpest comedy bits feel grounded in heart.

Now, in the wake of his loss, the show has removed the “and” to reflect a simple truth: Cleto’s leadership is no longer just a role. It’s a legacy.

Each night, announcer Lou Wilson will introduce “The Cletones,” making it clear that while Cleto may no longer be on stage in body, he’s still present in name—and always will be.

🎤 A Friendship That Defined the Show

For viewers, Cleto was the man with the horn, the melodies between monologues, and the quick quips during desk banter. But for Jimmy Kimmel, he was so much more.

The two met as kids growing up in Las Vegas. Cleto’s musical talent was obvious from a young age, and Kimmel—already dreaming of making people laugh—found in Cleto a kindred spirit. They became inseparable. When Kimmel launched his show in 2003, he didn’t hesitate for a second.

“I told ABC I would do the show, but only if Cleto led the band,” Kimmel once said. “They didn’t know who he was, but I did. I couldn’t imagine doing this without him.”

That personal connection gave the show a unique chemistry. While other late-night programs rotate bandleaders or stick to a more formal setup, Jimmy Kimmel Live! always felt like a living room—because at its core, it was hosted by two best friends doing what they loved, together.

💔 The Night It Changed

In the emotional episode following Cleto’s passing, Kimmel spoke directly to the camera for more than 20 minutes. He didn’t read from a teleprompter. He didn’t rehearse.

He just talked—about how they met, the teenage hijinks, the cross-country moves, the tour bus memories, the music, and the quiet loyalty that marked their friendship.

There were tears. There was laughter. And there was a palpable silence that followed, the kind that hangs heavy in a room when something sacred has ended.

But from that silence came a decision: Cleto’s name would stay. His music would play. His spirit would not leave the show he helped build.

🎷 A Band with Family at Its Core

Jimmy Kimmel Live! has always had a different energy—and a big part of that is because the band was more than just musicians. They were family, literally and figuratively.

Nowhere was that more true than in the presence of Cleto Escobedo Jr., Cleto’s father, who has long played in the band alongside his son. The father-son duo brought a sense of continuity, joy, and history to the show. Their on-stage bond was visible, their musical synergy unmistakable.

Today, Cleto Sr. continues to perform with The Cletones, bringing even more emotional resonance to every performance. His presence is a bridge to the past and a living tribute to his son.

And in a world of fast turnover and fading attention spans, that kind of legacy means something.

🎺 Why This Tribute Matters

Late-night television has a long history of iconic bandleaders—from Paul Shaffer with David Letterman to Kevin Eubanks with Jay Leno. But Cleto’s relationship with Kimmel was special.

This wasn’t just a musical collaborator. It was the heart of the show.

And now, by renaming the band “The Cletones,” the show is doing something rare: ensuring that a beloved member of its family is never forgotten. That his name isn’t erased or replaced, but carried forward—night after night, beat after beat.

“This was the only way we could do it,” said one longtime staffer. “It’s not a tribute for a week or a month. It’s forever.”

🕯️ A Legacy Beyond Late-Night

Outside of the show, Cleto Escobedo III had an impressive career as a musician. He performed with artists like Marc Anthony, Prince, and Earth, Wind & Fire, bringing his signature saxophone sound to stages around the world.

But ask anyone who knew him, and they’ll tell you the same thing: his kindness outshined even his talent.

He was the guy who remembered birthdays, who stayed late to rehearse with younger musicians, who laughed loudest at Kimmel’s worst jokes, and who gave Jimmy Kimmel Live! its unmistakable soul.

His passing wasn’t just a loss for the show—it was a loss for music, for friendship, and for every viewer who felt that warmth radiating through the screen.

🎼 “The Cletones” — A Name with Meaning

The beauty of the band’s new name is in its simplicity.

It doesn’t change the music. It doesn’t erase the past.

But it reframes it—elevating Cleto from leader to legend.

Where once he led the band, now he is the band. His name, his influence, his spirit—they’re all part of the fabric of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in a way that no cancellation, time slot change, or network shuffle could undo.

And that’s not just good television. That’s good humanity.

🎥 The Show Must Go On—With Love

Every night, Jimmy Kimmel Live! continues. The guests arrive. The desk is polished. The cue cards are prepped.

And now, when the band is introduced, it’s not just an opening line. It’s a moment of remembrance.

“Ladies and gentlemen, The Cletones.”

It’s a small change. But for those who knew Cleto—for those who loved him—it’s everything.

💬 Final Thoughts: Music Never Dies

In the world of late-night, co-hosts come and go. Bandleaders retire. Formats shift. But the best shows—the ones that matter—are built on something deeper than jokes and guests.

They’re built on trust. On friendship. On people who show up night after night because they believe in something.

Cleto Escobedo III showed up every night for 21 years. Now, even in absence, he will continue to be part of the show he helped shape.

Not with a moment of silence.

But with a name that plays forever.

TL;DR:

After Cleto Escobedo III’s passing, Jimmy Kimmel Live! renamed its band “The Cletones” in his honor.

Escobedo was Kimmel’s childhood best friend and the show’s bandleader since 2003.

His father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., continues to play in the band, preserving a personal and musical legacy.

The change ensures that Cleto remains an eternal part of the show’s identity.

Viewers will now hear “The Cletones” at the top of every episode, keeping Cleto’s spirit alive nightly.