Raffi

Quality 0.50 · 2 views · Updated 2 months ago

Canadian singer-songwriter and children's advocate (born 1948)

title: "Raffi" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1948-births", "living-people", "20th-century-canadian-guitarists", "20th-century-canadian-male-singers", "20th-century-canadian-singer-songwriters", "21st-century-canadian-guitarists", "21st-century-canadian-male-singers", "21st-century-canadian-singer-songwriters", "a&m-records-artists", "canadian-autobiographers", "canadian-children's-musicians", "canadian-environmentalists", "canadian-folk-guitarists", "canadian-male-guitarists", "canadian-male-singer-songwriters", "canadian-people-of-armenian-descent", "children's-rights-activists", "egyptian-people-of-armenian-descent", "egyptian-emigrants-to-canada", "fingerstyle-guitarists", "juno-award-for-children's-album-of-the-year-winners", "mca-records-artists", "members-of-the-order-of-british-columbia", "companions-of-the-order-of-canada", "singers-from-toronto", "shoreline-records-artists", "rounder-records-artists", "guitarists-from-toronto", "people-from-the-capital-regional-district"] description: "Canadian singer-songwriter and children's advocate (born 1948)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raffi" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Canadian singer-songwriter and children's advocate (born 1948) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist "]

Field	Value
name	Raffi
honorific_suffix
image	RaffiSpeaking.jpg
caption	Raffi in 2007
birth_name	Raffi Cavoukian
birth_date
birth_place	Cairo, Egypt
occupation
origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
years_active	1970s–present
spouse
genre	{{flatlist
website
instrument
::

|name = Raffi |honorific_suffix = |image = RaffiSpeaking.jpg |caption = Raffi in 2007 |birth_name = Raffi Cavoukian |birth_date = |birth_place = Cairo, Egypt |occupation = |origin = Toronto, Ontario, Canada |years_active = 1970s–present |spouse = |genre = {{flatlist|

Children's music
children's literature |website =
|imagesize = |instrument = Raffi Cavoukian (, born July 8, 1948), known professionally by the mononym Raffi, is an Armenian-Canadian singer-lyricist and author born in Egypt best known for his children's music. In 1992, The Washington Post called him "the most popular children's singer in the English-speaking world". He developed his career as a "global troubadour" to become a music producer, author, entrepreneur, and founder of the Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring, an initiative focused on promoting children's rights and well-being. He has also been involved in advocacy for environmental and social causes, often addressing issues like commercial exploitation of children and climate change through his music and public appearances.

Early life

Raffi was born in Cairo, Egypt, to Armenian Christian parents who fled Turkey during the Armenian genocide. His mother Lucie Cavoukian named him after the Armenian novelist Raffi. He was exposed to music at a young age, as his mother sang to him and his father sang and played accordion. In a 2024 interview, he noted that "In my early childhood, growing up in a fairly authoritarian family, my parents loved me greatly. But it was at times a coercive love, not exactly a respectful love". The family left Egypt in 1952, living in Jerusalem and Syria before immigrating to Canada in 1958, eventually settling in Toronto, Ontario.

His father, Arto (Artin) Cavoukian, was a well-known portrait photographer with a studio on Bloor Street in Toronto. His older brother, Onnig Cavoukian, known as Cavouk, is also a famous portrait photographer. His younger sister is Ann Cavoukian, Ontario's former Information and Privacy Commissioner. His parents died within twelve hours of each other, his mother dying first of abdominal cancer. He visited Soviet Armenia once in 1972.

Career

Children's entertainer

In the early 1970s, Raffi frequented a Toronto guitar store near Yonge and Wellesley called Millwheel, where he met other developing Canadian musicians such as David Wilcox and John Lacey. He befriended Lacey, a folk guitarist from Oakville, Ontario, who helped Raffi improve his finger picking. Raffi continued playing folk guitar in coffee houses in Toronto and Montréal before hitchhiking to Vancouver in 1972 to find "fame and fortune."

His first performance for children was in 1974, at a nursery school run by his mother-in-law. His first album, Singable Songs for the Very Young, was produced in his friend's basement and released in 1976. The album was influenced by three educators, including his then-wife.

Most of Raffi's children's albums include small, simple, folk instrumentations featuring Raffi's vocal and guitar work. Early works included contributions from Toronto-area folk musicians, including Ken Whiteley, The Honolulu Heartbreakers, and Bruce Cockburn. Raffi also incorporated many world music sounds into his records, including "Sambalele" (More Singable Songs, 1977) and "Anansi" (The Corner Grocery Store, 1979). Some of Raffi's best-known children's songs are "Bananaphone", "All I Really Need", and "Down by the Bay".

In 1979, he wrote "Baby Beluga", possibly his most famous song, after meeting a beluga whale named Kavna at the Vancouver Aquarium.

In 1989, his album Raffi In Concert With The Rise And Shine Band was listed on the RPM Top 100 Albums chart. He took a break from music from 1989 to 1990.

In 1999, he released his autobiography, The Life of a Children’s Troubadour.

After a seven-year gap in publishing, Raffi released an album, Let's Play, in 2002.

He is currently the president of Troubadour Music Inc., a triple-bottom-line company he founded to produce and promote his work. He released recordings for a number of other artists, including Caitlin Hanford and Chris Whiteley.

As of 2017, Raffi continues to perform and appears occasionally across Canada and the United States. His most recent album is "Penny Penguin", a collaboration album with Canadian trio The Good Lovelies which was released in 2024.

Advocacy

Raffi's recent musical work focuses on social and environmental causes and appeals to the generation who grew up with his children's music ("Beluga Grads") to effect change in the world. He also promotes those causes through his books, academic lectures and as a speaker.

Raffi has been involved with environmental advocacy since 1989, releasing a music album for adults about climate change, Evergreen, Everblue, the following year.

In 2004, he released "Salaam Shalom," a song calling for the end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In 2007, Raffi wrote, recorded and produced the single "Cool It", a rockabilly "call to action" on global warming with Dr. David Suzuki in the chorus. "Cool It" was the theme song for Dr. Suzuki's recent Canadian tour to promote action on climate change. In February 2016, Raffi released the song "Wave of Democracy" in support of American Senator Bernie Sanders run to be the Democratic nominee for US Presidency. In September 2019 he released song "Young People Marching", which was written for Greta Thunberg.

In August 2020, Raffi released a song titled "For All You Do," featuring Lindsay Munroe and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The song honoured frontline and essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceeds from downloads and streams were donated to Direct Relief to support healthcare workers globally.

Raffi is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.

child_honoring

Child Honouring

In 1997, Raffi developed the idea of "Child Honouring," which he described in 2021 as "a vision of an extraordinary social-change revolution with the universal human at its heart, and that universal human is the human child". In 2006, he described the Child Honouring ethic is described as a "vision, an organizing principle, and a way of life—a revolution in values that calls for a profound redesign of every sphere of society." His "Covenant for Honouring Children" outlines the principles of this philosophy.

In 2006, with Dr. Sharna Olfman, he co-edited an anthology, Child Honouring: How to Turn This World Around, which introduces Child Honouring as a philosophy for restoring communities and ecosystems. It contains chapters by Penelope Leach, Fritjof Capra, David Korten, Riane Eisler, Mary Gordon, Graça Machel, Joel Bakan, Matthew Fox, Barbara Kingsolver, Jean-Daniel Ó Donncada, and others. The book's foreword is by the 14th Dalai Lama. The musical album Resisto Dancing: Songs of Compassionate Revolution was released as a tie-in for the book.

In a 2006 speech, Iona Campagnolo, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, referred to Child Honouring as a "vast change in the human paradigm."

Raffi advocates for a child's right to live free of commercial exploitation and he has consistently refused all commercial endorsement offers. Raffi's company has never directly advertised nor marketed to children. In 2005, he sent an open letter to Ted Rogers of Rogers Wireless, urging them to stop marketing cell phones to children. He also turned down a film proposal for "Baby Beluga" because of the nature of the funding, which was based on exploitative advertising and marketing.

Raffi has been hailed for his work as "Canada's all time children's champion".

In October 2006, Raffi was presented with the Fred Rogers Integrity Award by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood at the Judge Baker Children's Center in Boston, for his consistent refusal to use his music in endorsements that market products directly to children.

In 2012, after learning details surrounding the online bullying, exploitation and ultimate suicide of teenager Amanda Todd, Raffi and his Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring co-founded the Red Hood Project with business owner, former Crown prosecutor, community and arts philanthropist and advocate Sandy Garossino and design professional, writer, educator and community activist Mark Busse. Red Hood Project is a movement for consumer protection for children online that launched in November 2012.

In June 2013, Raffi published the book Lightweb Darkweb: Three Reasons to Reform Social Media Before it Re-forms Us, which examines both the benefits and the dangers present on the internet and in social media.

Personal life

In 1975, Raffi married Deborah Pike, a kindergarten teacher and high school classmate; they divorced in 1991. He became a vegetarian in 1980.

Although Raffi's music is geared towards children, Raffi has never had any children himself.

He owned a home on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia from 2008 until 2024, when he put the property on the market. He has been an outspoken critic of American President Donald Trump, especially regarding the effects of his policies on children and youth.

Awards and memberships

Order of Canada (1983).
125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal (1992).
Canadian Version of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002).
Canadian Version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).
Order of British Columbia (2001).
Doctor of Music, from the University of Victoria (honorary degree)
Doctor of Letters, from the University of British Columbia (honorary degree)
Doctor of Letters, from Wilfrid Laurier University (honorary degree)
Fred Rogers Integrity Award (2006)
Special Achievement Award at the SOCAN Awards in Toronto in 2000.
2010 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award Winner.
Honorary Doctorate of Letters, Vancouver Island University (2014)
Companion of the Order of Canada (2025)

Works

Discography

Studio albums

Good Luck Boy (1975)
Singable Songs for the Very Young (1976)
Adult Entertainment (1977)
More Singable Songs (1977)
The Corner Grocery Store (1979)
Baby Beluga (1980)
Rise and Shine (1982)
Raffi's Christmas Album (1983)
One Light, One Sun (1985)
Everything Grows (1987)
Raffi in Concert with the Rise and Shine Band (1989)
Evergreen Everblue (1990)
Raffi on Broadway (1993)
Bananaphone (1994)
Raffi Radio (1995)
Country Goes Raffi (2001) (tribute album)
Let's Play (2002)
Where We All Belong (2003)
Song for the Dalai Lama (2004) (commemorative CD)
Resisto Dancing – Songs of Compassionate Revolution (2006)
Communion (2009)
Love Bug (2014)
Owl Singalong (2016)
Dog on the Floor (2018)
Nursery Rhymes For Kinder Times (with Lindsay Munroe) (2022)
Penny Penguin (with The Good Lovelies) (2024)

Compilations

Raffi in Concert (1996)
The Singable Songs Collection (1996)
Raffi's Box of Sunshine (2000)
Quiet Time (2006)
Animal Songs (2008)
Songs of Our World (2008)
Fun Food Songs (2013)
Best Of Raffi (2017)
Motivational Songs (2019)

Singles

''Singable Songs for the Very Young'' (1976)

"The More We Get Together"
"Down By the Bay"
"Brush Your Teeth"
"Robin in the Rain"
"I Wonder If I'm Growing"
"Bumping Up and Down"
"Willoughby Wallaby Woo"
"Spider on the Floor"
"Baa Baa Black Sheep"
"Peanut Butter Sandwich"
"The Sharing Song"
"Mr. Sun"

''More Singable Songs'' (1977)

"Six Little Ducks"
"You Gotta Sing"
"Oh Me, Oh My!"
"He'll Be Coming Down the Chimney"
"Shake My Sillies Out"
"If I Had a Dinosaur"
"I've Been Working on the Railroad"

''The Corner Grocery Store'' (1979)

"Knees Up Mother Brown"
"Cluck, Cluck, Red Hen"
"My Way Home"
"Anansi"
"The Corner Grocery Store"
"Y A Un Rat"/"Sur le Pont d'Avignon"
"Going on a Picnic"
"Goodnight Irene"

''Baby Beluga'' (1980)

"Baby Beluga"
"Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)"
"Thanks a Lot"
"All I Really Need"
"Morningtown Ride"

''Rise and Shine'' (1982)

"Rise and Shine"
"Walk, Walk, Walk"
"The Wheels on the Bus"
"Daniel"
"Five Little Ducks"
"He's Got the Whole World"
"Big Beautiful Planet"
"I'm in the Mood"
"Something In My Shoe"
"This Little Light of Mine"

''Raffi's Christmas Album'' (1983)

"Frosty The Snowman"
"Up On The House-Top"
"On Christmas Morning"
"Petit Papa Noel"
"Jingle Bells"
"The First Noel / Deck The Halls"
"Every Little Wish"
"Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer"
"Must Be Santa"
"Douglas Mountain"
"Old Toy Trains"
"Christmas Time’s A Coming"
"Silent Night / Away In A Manger"
"There Was A Little Baby"
"A Child’s Gift of Love"
"We Wish You A Merry Christmas"

''One Light, One Sun'' (1985)

"Time to Sing"
"Apples and Bananas"
"Fais Dodo"
"Riding in an Airplane"
"Like Me and You"
"The Bowling Song"
"Tingalayo"
"De Colores"
"One Light, One Sun"
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"

''Everything Grows'' (1987)

"Everything Grows"
"Bathtime"
"Just Like the Sun"
"Haru Ga Kita"
"Teddy Bear Hug"
"Eight Piggies in a Row"
"Let's Make Some Noise"

''[[Evergreen Everblue]]'' (1990)

"Evergreen Everblue"
"Big Beautiful Planet"
"Clean Rain"

Non-album singles

On Hockey Days
Wave of Democracy
Song For Healing (featuring Lindsay Munroe)
For All You Do (featuring Lindsay Munroe and Yo-Yo Ma)
Young People Marching (for Greta Thunberg)

Filmography

A Young Children's Concert with Raffi (1984)
Raffi in Concert with the Rise and Shine Band (1988)
Ferngully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
Raffi on Broadway (1993)
Raffi Renaissance (2007)

Bibliography

Adult

The Life of a Children's Troubadour (2000)
Lightweb Darkweb (2013)

Children

Raffi Christmas Treasury (1988)
Shake My Sillies Out (1988)
Tingalayo (1988)
Rise and Shine (1995)
One Light, One Sun (1995)
Like Me and You (1996)
Spider on the Floor (1996)
This Little Light of Mine (1997)
Wheels on the Bus (1998)
Five Little Ducks (1999)

References

Lei, Richard, ''[[The Washington Post]]'', "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1992/05/31/raffis-growing-pains/916301da-28d1-4bbe-ba48-802661e51234/ Raffi's Growing Pains."] May 31, 1992. Retrieved on May 23, 2019.
(2020-01-26). "For more than 40 years Raffi, the folk singer-turned-rock star to kids, has been singing songs to delight the young at heart".
Silvers, Emma. (April 26, 2024). "Raffi's guide to fighting fascism".
Zaltzman, Lior. (2024-02-07). "When Raffi Sang a Song of Peace for Israeli and Palestinian Children".
Pogrebin, Robin. (September 18, 2002). "Not All Sunshine for Teensy Set's Troubadour". [[The New York Times]].
(October 7, 2021). "Raffi have you ever visited Armenia?: once. Soviet Armenia, 1972.". [[Twitter]].
McMillan, Candice. (2024-04-18). "My bananaphone moment: An interview with Raffi".
Cecco, Leyland. (2022-12-29). "Raffi Cavoukian: from children's troubadour to climate campaigner". The Guardian.
Uitti, Jacob. (2022-09-19). "Behind the Meaning of the Kids' Song "Down By the Bay" by Raffi".
[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=4952& "RPM Top 100 Albums"]. ''RPM Magazine'' Volume 50, No. 24 October 14, 1989.
Kimball, Debi. (November 1992). "Song Sung Green". Vegetarian Times.
Baker, Matthew Reed. (2013-05-02). "Q&A: Raffi Returns to the Road After 10-Year Hiatus".
David Farrell. (19 December 1981). "Cavoukian builds on small stable of acts". Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
Graham, Ruth. (2019-09-26). ""Blue White Planet Spinning in Space"". Slate.
(25 February 2016). "Wave Of Democracy ~ Raffi".
"YO-YO MA JOINS RAFFI AND LINDSAY MUNROE ON "FOR ALL YOU DO" — A NEW SONG OF THANKS FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS – Press Releases – Universal Music Canada".
"Artists".
Eakin, Marah. (2021-09-09). ""Raffi for President": The children's music icon looks back on his playful life and career".
(2006). "''Child Honouring: How to Turn This World Around''".
"A Covenant for Honoring Children".
(2006-06-29). "Child Honouring Luncheon".
(30 August 2005). "Raffi Asks Rogers Not to Market Mobile Phones to Children".
(14 December 2012). "Raffi on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight: INTERVIEW". [[YouTube]].
(2013-05-13). "Lightweb Darkweb: Three Reasons To Reform Social Media Before it Re-Forms Us".
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/raffi-songs-for-the-very-young-and-young-at-heart/
(2024-09-18). "Children's musician Raffi is selling his Canadian island home: Photos".
Chang, Clio. (2024-10-23). "Raffi Is Selling His House".
Meyerson, Collier. (2019-04-11). "Why the King of Children's Music Is Taking on Trump".
"The Governor General of Canada > Find a Recipient".
(12 January 2026). "Mr. Raffi Cavoukian Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal Citation".
(12 January 2026). "Mr. Raffi Cavoukian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal Citation".
(15 January 2009). "2001 Recipient: Raffi Cavoukian – Vancouver | Order of BC".
(13 October 2004). "University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Media releases".
[http://www.educ.ubc.ca/anniversary/public_forum.html] {{webarchive. link. (26 August 2010)
(19 March 2015). "Wilfrid Laurier University - University Secretariat - Senate - Honorary Degree Recipients".
(2 February 2005). "The Fred Rogers Integrity Award".
"2000 SOCAN AWARDS".
"Canada's Top 25 Immigrants 2010".
"Record of Honorary Doctorate Recipients".
"Order of Canada Appointees – December 31, 2025".
(17 October 2025). "Mr. Raffi Cavoukian Order of Canada Citation".
(2024-04-23). "Raffi : Bullseye with Jesse Thorn".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::