Markos is considered by many to be the father of bouzouki playing and rebetika. He grew up on the isle of Syros and ran away to the mainland city of Piraeus at age twelve. He fell in love with bouzouki music as a teenager and quickly developed a reputation. He recorded for the first time in 1932 and although he didn't consider himself a singer he ended up doing the vocals on his first record. It became a hit and his gravely singing became the norm. He made hundreds of records through the 30's and early 40's but eventually faded from the scene as the music began to change.
