The Local Spins series highlighting albums that influenced Michigan artists continues with a Motor City mainstay who’s gotten inspiration from Bruce Hornsby, The Beatles and Marvin Gaye.
Yorg Kerasiotis: ‘Detroit has always been about raw talent and hustle.’ (Courtesy Photo)
EDITOR’S NOTE: All musicians can trace their inspiration to a few key recordings that captivated them and helped shape their musical careers. Today, Local Spins writer Ross Boissoneau spotlights the albums that have most impacted Detroit multi-instrumentalist, promoter and producer Yorg Kerasiotis. Scroll down for a Spotify playlist of his picks.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
“Detroit has always been about raw talent and hustle, and I’m just out here trying to capture it all and elevate the city’s music scene,” Yorg Kerasiotis declares on his Facebook page.
Kerasiotis, a.k.a. Yorg Detroit, is a multi-instrumentalist and a multiple threat. A longtime touring musician, he has added to his repertoire by expanding into related fields. “All I ever wanted to be was a musician,” he says. “Now I don’t make money (from playing). I’m more a promoter, filmmaker, content creator. I had to shift.”
He interrupted his studies at Michigan State University, where he was minoring in music, to tour with the band Bump, which he co-founded with guitarist Chris Sterr. He has worked with electronic music duo Flashclash along with musical outfits Louie Lee and Supercrunch, while also co-hosting and producing the live music performance series Singers In The Round at Aretha’s Jazz Café.
“I’m in 28 bands,” he says with a laugh. “I’ll plays keys, guitar, sing, dance for any band that needs it.
“I’m still 100 percent music – but I get my money from the other things. I’m a good example of what the music industry has become.”
Every spring, Kerasiotis organizes multi-genre music showcases and events highlighting Michigan artists at the massive South By Southwest (SXSW) music festival and conference in Austin, Texas.
And while the non-stop patter and stream-of-consciousness exposition can be hard to keep up with, in conversation it’s clear that Yorg is both a fan and a connoisseur of music, both today’s and yesterday’s.
1. Bruce Hornsby and the Range, “The Way It Is” (1986) – I was a guitarist, but from 2015 to 2023, I just played piano and was a lead singer and frontman. Now mainly it’s piano, all because of Bruce Hornsby. I used to vacation in New York and my aunt would take me to the Fillmore. In popped Bruce Hornsby. He had the most beautiful sound, very “Boys of Summer”-esque. Then Faith No More, “Layla,” I became obsessed with piano.
Listen: “The Way It Is”
2. The Beatles, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (1967) – I’m an Oasis fan, and they were so into the Beatles. Music had evolved enough. I liked the overproduction (of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band”). I understood it. They’re my Mozart.
Listen: “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”
3. Marvin Gaye, “What’s Going On” (1971) – I’m a funk guy. James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, “Superfly.” “What’s Going On” is (bassist) James Jamerson at his best. There ya go. It’s so big, amazing. It was the final graduation of what that music could do. Nina Simone – you have to be an artist of your time. I tell people, you think I want to be on stage and dance around? For musicians, content is making money. There are no albums. It started in 1930. It was a good run. Now you’re a circus performer again.
Listen: “What’s Going On”
Currently Loving: The Womack Sisters, “The Womack Sisters” (2026) – The Womack Sisters are Sam Cooke’s granddaughters (and Bobby Womack’s nieces), who made so much memorable music. I love it all. Every song sounds incredible. The girls have really taken over. The higher full voice is making better hits – Adele, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo. There are a lot of females pushing through.
Listen: “If I Let You”
ALBUMS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: Yorg’s Playlist on Spotify
Copyright 2026, Spins on Music LLC
