Yiotis Kiourtsoglou was born in Kozani, Greece in 1965. He studied electrical engineering at the State Technological Institute and jazz theory and harmony at the Synchronon music school in Thesalloniki. He continued his music education studying electric bass at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles (1987- 89), receiving the MI scholarship award, and was nominated for outstanding player and most improved student of the year award. His instructors included Garry Willis, Bob Magnuson, Carl Schoeder, Jeff Berlin and Scot Henderson.

As a recording artist, he made several albums with Electric Jazz Trio (with Manny Boyd and Danny Hayes), Exit, Iasis, Tillman Ambient Groove, Lauenen and Human Touch, being a founding member of most of the above. He also played as a guest artist on recordings with David Lynch, Marcos Alexiou, Takis Barberis with Trilok Gurtu.

He performed in Greece, Cyprus, the USA, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Israel and the U.K. in international festivals and places such as the Acropolis Theater, Lincoln Center, the Athens Concert Hall and the ancient theaters of Epidaurus and Koureion. He collaborated with many artists, including John Stubblefield, Billy Hart, Manny Boyd, Danny Hayes, Interbalcan Orchestra, Dionysis Savopoulos, Alkinoos Yioannides and the Athens Symphony Orchestra as soloist.
He composes music for dance, theater and cinema productions as well as for his own Jazz group, Human Touch. He currently teaches at the Nakas conservatory in Athens.