Raffi (his real name) Cavoukian was born on July 8, 1948 in Cairo, Egypt. His family immigrated to Canada in 1958. He began his career as a Toronto-based singer/songwriter in 1970 and began performing for young children in 1974.
His first children's album, Singable Songs for the Very Young, was released in 1976, and is still his best-selling. Raffi has recorded a total of 13 albums and 3 concert videos. Sales in North America range from gold to triple platinum, and total over 12 million units.
Seven songbooks and fifteen picture books based on Raffi's music have been published - over three million copies are sold and in print.
Raffi has written a number of inspirational songs for parents, educators, children's advocates and older children. They include "Blessed Be," which is featured on the video Begin With Love, hosted by Oprah Winfrey, and "Counting On You," inspired by Dr. Jane Goodall.
Raffi's Covenant for Honouring Children, a poetic declaration of our responsibilities to children and the Earth, is being circulated widely through child advocacy and environmental health groups. An audio version, featuring the voices of Raffi, Dr. Jane Goodall and the Dalai Lama, is included on the Troubadour Foundation CD, Song for the Dalai Lama. Available online at www.rounder.com
This year, Raffi is devoting his energies to writing Child Honoring: How To Turn This World Around, an anthology promoting respect for the first years of life as the best way to create a humane and sustainable world.
It was so much fun playing "The more we get together" with you at Zavi's Fiddle Camp on Salt Spring. I still have a picture of the face i made when you told me you have a banana phone. Stay inpirational! Thank you!
Thanks for the add. My 4 year old son insists on playing your songs (all of them!) all day, everyday. I love that he's musical like his Mom and Dad, but I have had either Bananaphone or Joshua Girafe running through my head for many months now, and there's no sign of it slowing down. Thanks for inspiring generations of kids. Tamara
I have such great memories of my mom driving me home from school with my raffi tape on and than pulling in the driveway and running in, pushing play on my raffi VHS and sit and watch it with my mom and dad. I can't wait till I have children of my own to share this with. Thanks for the memories! <3 Monica
I listened to you as a child, and played your inspiring music for my students while working at a preschool as an inclusions teachers, working with disabled students, the parents would come to me and sing a part of your song and say " my daughter was singing this all night long...what song is that?" ROCK ON RAFFI!
Raffi i love you haha, your music realli does make em smile, i duno why tho cos im 18 now and i've never heard thoes songs when i was little..but its werid really makes me smile , your a grape guy ! :D thats right GRAPE :D
Hi Raffi! We grew up on your music and love every song!! We had the privilege of meeting you last spring and you sang "grown-up belugas" to us...the highlight of our year, thus far! Cheers to you and musical adventures for all ages:) B&L
