Cleto and the Cletones

The Cletones, formerly Cleto and the Cletones, is the American house band on the ABC-TV late-night television program, Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Overview

The band is named after Cleto Escobedo III, who was the leader of the sextet from 1995 until 2025, and played the alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones on the show, as well as occasionally singing both on camera and off. He grew up as a neighbor of host Jimmy Kimmel in Las Vegas; after briefly attending UNLV, he joined the band Santa Fe.
They appeared on the seventh episode of the I Love Music Podcast with Jen Fodor.
On November 11, 2025, Kimmel announced via Instagram that his longtime bandleader and friend Cleto Escobedo III had died that day at the age of 59.
The band's name was changed to the Cletones following Escobedo's death.

Collaborations

Cleto Escobedo III, Cleto Escobedo Jr. and Jeff Babko made a guest appearance on Lazlo Bane's album Guilty Pleasures.

Discography

''Los Blues Volume One Cleto The Cletones Jimmy Kimmel LP''