Raffi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raffi CM OBC
Raffi in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Raffi Cavoukian
Born	(1948-07-08) July 8, 1948 (age 77) Cairo, Egypt
Origin	Canadian
Genres	Children's music children's literature
Occupation(s)	Musician singer songwriter author essayist lecturer
Instruments	Vocals guitar ukulele
Years active	1970s–present

Raffi Cavoukian (born July 8, 1948), known simply as Raffi, is a famous Armenian-Canadian singer and author. He was born in Cairo, Egypt. Raffi is best known for his fun and catchy children's music.

In 1992, The Washington Post newspaper called him "the most popular children's singer in the English-speaking world." Beyond music, Raffi is also an author and a music producer. He started the Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring. This group works to protect children's rights and make sure kids are happy and healthy. Raffi also speaks out for the environment and important social issues. He often uses his music to talk about things like climate change and how companies advertise to kids.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Raffi was born in Cairo, Egypt. His parents were Armenian and had to leave Turkey because of the Armenian genocide. In 1958, his family moved to Canada. They eventually settled in Toronto, Ontario. Raffi's mother named him after a famous Armenian writer.

His father, Arto Cavoukian, was a well-known photographer. Raffi's older brother, Onnig Cavoukian, is also a famous photographer. His younger sister, Ann Cavoukian, worked to protect people's information in Ontario.

In the early 1970s, Raffi spent time at a guitar store in Toronto. There, he met other Canadian musicians. He became friends with John Lacey, a folk guitarist. John helped Raffi get better at playing the guitar. Raffi played folk guitar in coffee houses in Toronto and Montréal. In 1972, he traveled to Vancouver hoping to become famous.

A few years later, he returned to Toronto. He was asked to sing for a public school. Even though he wasn't sure about singing for kids, he was a huge hit! That's how his career as a children's entertainer began.

Raffi's Career Highlights

Children's Music and Albums

Raffi's first performance for children was in 1974. It was at a nursery school run by his mother-in-law. His first album, Singable Songs for the Very Young, came out in 1976. He recorded it in a friend's basement. The album was inspired by three educators, including his wife at the time.

Most of Raffi's children's albums have simple folk music. They feature his singing and guitar playing. Early albums included music from other folk musicians. Raffi also added sounds from different cultures to his songs. Some of his most famous children's songs are "Bananaphone", "All I Really Need", and "Down by the Bay".

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

His album Raffi In Concert With The Rise And Shine Band was very popular in 1989. Raffi took a break from music for about a year after that. In 1999, he wrote a book about his life called The Life of a Children’s Troubadour.

After a seven-year break from releasing new music, Raffi released Let's Play in 2002. He then took a break from touring between 2003 and 2013.

Today, Raffi is the president of Troubadour Music Inc.. This company helps produce and share his music. He still performs sometimes across Canada and the United States. His newest album, "Penny Penguin," came out in 2024. He worked on it with a Canadian group called The Good Lovelies.

Speaking Out for Important Causes

Raffi's newer music often focuses on social and environmental issues. He wants the people who grew up with his music (he calls them "Beluga Grads") to help make the world a better place. He also shares these messages in his books and talks.

Raffi has been involved in protecting the environment since 1989. In 1990, he released an album for adults about climate change called Evergreen, Everblue.

In 2004, he released "Salaam Shalom." This song called for peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In 2007, Raffi released "Cool It." This song was a rockabilly call to action about global warming. Dr. David Suzuki even sang in the chorus! "Cool It" was the theme song for Dr. Suzuki's tour to raise awareness about climate change. In 2019, Raffi released "Young People Marching." He wrote this song for Greta Thunberg, a young climate activist.

In 2020, Raffi released "For All You Do." This song honored healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Money from the song went to support healthcare workers around the world. Raffi is also a member of a Canadian charity called Artists Against Racism.

Child Honouring: A Vision for Kids

In 1997, Raffi came up with the idea of "Child Honouring." He described it as a way to create a better world by putting children first. He believes that society should be designed to support and respect every child. His "Covenant for Honouring Children" explains the main ideas of this philosophy.

In 2006, Raffi helped edit a book called Child Honouring: How to Turn This World Around. This book shares the idea of Child Honouring. It explains how this idea can help improve communities and the environment. Many important thinkers wrote chapters for the book. Even the 14th Dalai Lama wrote the introduction.

Raffi believes children should not be used for advertising. He has always said no to offers to use his music to sell products to kids. His company has never advertised directly to children. In 2005, he asked a phone company to stop marketing cell phones to children. He also turned down a movie idea for "Baby Beluga" because it would have involved too much advertising to kids.

Raffi has been called "Canada's all time children's champion." In 2006, he received an award for refusing to use his music to market products to children.

In 2013, Raffi published a book called Lightweb Darkweb. This book talks about the good and bad parts of the internet and social media. It helps people understand how to use social media safely.

Personal Life

Raffi was once married to a kindergarten teacher. He became a vegetarian in 1980.

He owned a home on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia for many years. He has spoken out about how some political decisions can affect children and young people.

Awards and Recognitions

Raffi has received many awards for his work:

• Order of Canada (1983)
• Order of British Columbia (2001)
• Honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Victoria
• Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of British Columbia
• Honorary Doctor of Letters from Wilfrid Laurier University
• Fred Rogers Integrity Award (2006)
• Special Achievement Award at the SOCAN Awards (2000)
• Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award Winner (2010)
• Honorary Doctorate of Letters, Vancouver Island University (2014)

Works

Discography

Studio Albums

• Good Luck Boy (1975)
• Singable Songs for the Very Young (1976)
• 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) (a tribute album)
• Let's Play (2002)
• Where We All Belong (2003)
• Song for the Dalai Lama (2004)
• 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)

• "Must Be Santa"
• "Douglas Mountain"
• "Every Little Wish"

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)
• Raffi on Broadway (1993)
• Raffi Renaissance (2007)