Rebetiko songs speak of life in the margin of society, difficult love stories, marihuana, honor, and poverty as a choice- better poor than exploited. The most famous rebetiko composers are Markos Vamvakaris, Vasilis Tsitsanis, and Ioannis Papaioannou. The guitar has been present in the history of rebetiko from the beginning, as an accompaniment but also as a solo instrument. Well-known rebetikocomposers played the guitar themselves and thus gave the instrument a solo role. Examples are Kostas Skarvelis( 1880-1942), Panagiotis Toundas( 1886-1942), Giorgos Katsaros( 1895-1997), Spyros Peristeris( 1900-1966) en Manolis Hiotis( 1920-1970).