Cleto Escobedo III’s family was a cornerstone of his life, a fact that resonated deeply in his personal and professional choices. He was married to a woman named Lori, and together they built a life and raised two children. While the names of his kids are not widely publicized out of respect for the family’s privacy, it is clear that they were central to his world.
In a 2022 interview, Cleto spoke about the profound benefit his stable job as a bandleader offered, contrasting it with the demanding life of a touring musician. He expressed how difficult it could be to leave family behind, noting that sometimes you’d leave when your children were babies and return to find them already talking. This insight fueled his desire to be present, making his role on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” not just a career highlight but a conscious decision to prioritize family time.
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His commitment to family was beautifully mirrored in his own workplace. When Jimmy Kimmel was assembling his house band in 2003, he asked Cleto if his father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., would like to join. This invitation turned the show into a remarkable family affair. For nearly two decades, Cleto III worked alongside his father every night, a unique and cherished experience they both celebrated.
His father, Cleto Jr., once emotionally shared, “A chance to play alongside my son every night; it gives me chills,” adding that he felt truly blessed by the opportunity. This father-son partnership gave audiences a small, nightly glimpse into a deeply supportive family bond, one that was clearly a source of immense pride and joy for both men.
Cleto Escobedo‘s Musical Roots
The story of Cleto Escobedo III’s family is deeply intertwined with music, a passion passed down from one generation to the next. His parents, Cleto Escobedo Jr. and Sylvia, have been married for over five decades, celebrating their 51st wedding anniversary back in 2014. Cleto Jr., a talented saxophonist in his own right, had his own illustrious musical past long before joining his son on television. He was a member of the groundbreaking late 1960s rock and soul band Los Blues, which performed in Las Vegas and counted legends like Sammy Davis Jr. and Elvis Presley as fans.
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However, when Cleto III was young, his father made the difficult decision to step away from his professional music career for thirty years. He did this to be more present for his son and his wife, Sylvia, a choice he later said he did not regret despite missing performance.
#BREAKINGNEWS: Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime friend and bandleader Cleto Escobedo III died on Tuesday morning, Kimmel announced on social media. 💔
Escobedo, who led the band Cleto and the Cletones on Kimmel’s show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was 59. https://t.co/dOogavvR5R pic.twitter.com/hKnUjQcFG4
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) November 11, 2025
Cleto Jr.’s own love for the saxophone was ignited by his father, Cleto Sr. In a heartfelt story, Cleto Jr. recalled his father waking him up one night to sneak him into a neighborhood club called Johnny’s Paradise. His father told him, “Mijo, you gotta hear this sax player. He can make it cry.” That experience left a young Cleto Jr. feeling “really neat” and set him on his own musical path. This creates a beautiful four-generation musical lineage, from Cleto Sr., who shared his passion, to Cleto Jr., the professional performer, to Cleto III, the bandleader, and now to his own kids.
In his social media post announcing the devastating loss, Jimmy Kimmel specifically asked the public to keep Cleto’s wife, children, and parents in their prayers, a testament to the close-knit family unit that surrounded and supported him throughout his life and career.
