Pianist Markos Alexiou was born in Egypt, Alexandria in 1939. He started taking music lessons at the early age of four and began his professional career at the age of eighteen, touring in the Middle East, Cyprus and Greece. He then appeared in well known Jazz Clubs in Europe, Australia and the USA.

Relocating in Greece during the ‘60s, he shared his remarkable experience of playing and touring around the world.
In the late ‘70s he formed the trio Sphinx, with bassist George Filippidis and drummer George Trantalidis. Their homonymous debut marked a new era for greek modern jazz. Joined later by guitar player Lakis Zois the band became a quartet and released their second album "Epta Diastaseis". The band gave numerous concerts around Greece and also played at the famous George Barakos’ Jazz Club in Athens. After the group disbanded, Markos Alexiou released some personal recordings.

He taught music at the music schools of Kostas Klavvas, Philippos Nakas, Nikos Skalkotas and Athenaeum and wrote books about music and improvisation.

Markos Alexiou died in 2014.