John Stavropoulos was born in Athens. He studied at Berklee College of Music on full scholarship.

He has played and recorded with such diverse artists as Aydin Esen, George Kontrafouris, Sami Amiris, Vasilis Tsambropoulos, Andy Sheppard, Jim Odgren, Dimitri Vassilakis, Yiotis Kiourtsoglou and Yiorgos Fakanas, amongst many others. He has toured and recorded with the trio NUKeLEUS, of which he is a founding member.

He teaches at the Modern Music School in Athens.