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Coverage dated November 10, 2025 to November 11, 2025

Jimmy Kimmel's bandleader Cleto Escobedo III dies

Headline from ABC 7 New York

Jimmy Kimmel's band leader Cleto Escobedo III died on Tuesday morning.

ABC 7 New York's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Read the reports

Reports & sources

19 articles, oldest first.

  1. KOB 4

    Cleto Escobedo III, Jimmy Kimmel's bandleader and childhood friend, dies at 59 (opens KOB 4)

    Published

    KOB 4's feed description

    Jimmy Kimmel is mourning the death of his longtime friend and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III. Escobedo was 59. Kimmel announced the news Tuesday on Instagram and expressed deep heartbreak. The two met as children in Las Vegas and grew up across the street from each other.

  2. Deadline

    Cleto Escobedo III Dies: ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Musical Director Was 59 (opens Deadline)

    Published

    Deadline's feed description

    Cleto Escobedo has worked on JKL! since it premiered in 2003 and was the leader of Cleto and the Cletones, the show's in-house band.

  3. Variety

    Jimmy Kimmel’s Band Leader Cleto Escobedo III Dies at 59: We’ve Been ‘Inseparable Since I Was Nine Years Old’ (opens Variety)

    Published

    Variety's feed description

    Cleto Escobedo III, Jimmy Kimmel's friend and the longtime bandleader of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!,' has died. He was 59.

  4. ABC 7 New York

    Jimmy Kimmel's bandleader Cleto Escobedo III dies (opens ABC 7 New York)

    Published

    ABC 7 New York's feed description

    Jimmy Kimmel's band leader Cleto Escobedo III died on Tuesday morning.

  5. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

    Jimmy Kimmel announces death of bandleader and close friend Cleto Escobedo III (opens NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

    Published

    NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth's feed description

    Kimmel met Escobedo in 1977, when the late-night host's family moved out of New York to Las Vegas.

  6. The Hollywood Reporter

    Cleto Escobedo III, ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Bandleader, Dies at 59 (opens The Hollywood Reporter)

    Published

    The Hollywood Reporter's feed description

    ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ bandleader Cleto Escobedo III died on Nov. 11 at the age of 59.

  7. The Boston Globe

    Cleto Escobedo III, Jimmy Kimmel’s bandleader and childhood friend, dies (opens The Boston Globe)

    Published

    The Boston Globe's feed description

    Kimmel announced Escobedo’s death Tuesday on Instagram, saying “that we are heartbroken is an understatement.”

  8. Las Vegas Review-Journal

    Jimmy Kimmel’s bandleader, a former Las Vegas resident, dies at 59 (opens Las Vegas Review-Journal)

    Published

    Las Vegas Review-Journal's feed description

    Cleto Escobedo III and Jimmy Kimmel met as children in Las Vegas, where they grew up across the street from each other.

  9. Honolulu Star-Advertiser

    Cleto Escobedo III, Jimmy Kimmel’s bandleader, dies at 59 | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (opens Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

    Published

    Honolulu Star-Advertiser's feed description

    Cleto Escobedo III, a saxophonist whose childhood friendship with comedian Jimmy Kimmel led to a decades-long role as the leader of the house band on Kimmel’s late night show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” died today. He was 59.

  10. The Oregonian

    Cleto Escobedo III, Jimmy Kimmel’s bandleader, dies at 59 (opens The Oregonian)

    Published

    The Oregonian's feed description

    News of Escobedo’s death comes after Thursday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was abruptly canceled.

  11. Delaware Public Media

    Cleto Escobedo III, leader of Jimmy Kimmel's house band, dies at 59 (opens Delaware Public Media)

    Published

    Delaware Public Media's feed description

    Escobedo had been leading Kimmel's house band since the show launched in 2003. The musician and the comedian were childhood friends in Las Vegas.

  12. Fox10 Phoenix

    Cleto Escobedo III, beloved ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ bandleader, dies at 59 (opens Fox10 Phoenix)

    Published

    Fox10 Phoenix's feed description

    Jimmy Kimmel is mourning the loss of Cleto Escobedo III, his longtime friend and the bandleader of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," who has died at 59.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

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