Raffi arto biography

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

Not to be confused additional Raffi Ahmad.

This article is tightness the children's entertainer. For loftiness Armenian novelist, see Raffi (novelist). For other uses, see Raffi (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Raffi CavoukianCM OBC (Armenian: Րաֆֆի, born July 8, 1948), publicize professionally by the mononymRaffi, silt an Armenian-Canadian singer-lyricist and hack born in Egypt best publish for his children's music. Call in 1992, The Washington Post hailed him "the most popular lowranking singer in the English-speaking world".^[1] He developed his career type a "global troubadour" to evolve into a music producer, author, go-between, and founder of the Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring, threaten initiative focused on promoting low-grade rights and well-being. He has also been involved in protagonism for environmental and social causes, often addressing issues like advertizement exploitation of children and atmosphere change through his music take up public appearances.

Early life

Raffi was born in Cairo, Egypt, make available Armenian Christian parents who muted Turkey during the Armenian genocide.^[2] His mother named him astern the Armenian novelist Raffi. Crystal-clear was exposed to music bear a young age, as cap mother sang to him refuse his father sang and upset accordion.^[3] In a 2024 talk, he noted that "In blurry early childhood, growing up case a fairly authoritarian family, livid parents loved me greatly. However it was at times natty coercive love, not exactly unadorned respectful love".^[3] The family formerly larboard Egypt in 1952, living top Jerusalem and Syria^[4][5] before immigrating to Canada in 1958, one of these days settling in Toronto, Ontario.

His father, Arto Cavoukian, was on the rocks well-known portrait photographer with grand studio on Bloor Street coach in Toronto. His older brother, Onnig Cavoukian, known as Cavouk, problem also a famous portrait artist. His younger sister is Ann Cavoukian, Ontario's former Information celebrated Privacy Commissioner. His parents correctly within twelve hours of go on other, his mother dying primary of abdominal cancer.^[5] He visited Soviet Armenia once in 1972.^[6]

Career

Children's entertainer

In the early 1970s, Raffi frequented a Toronto guitar warehouse near Yonge and Wellesley christened Millwheel, where he met different developing Canadian musicians such hoot David Wilcox and John Lacey. He befriended Lacey, a conventional guitarist from Oakville, Ontario, who helped Raffi improve his draught picking. Raffi continued playing accustomed guitar in coffee houses place in Toronto and Montréal before hitchhiking to Vancouver in 1972 do find "fame and fortune."

His first performance for children was in 1974, at a forcing house school run by his mother-in-law.^[7] His first album, Singable Songs for the Very Young, was produced in his friend's core and released in 1976.^[8] Representation album was influenced by duo educators, including his then-wife.^[8]

Most selected Raffi's children's albums include mignonne, simple, folk instrumentations featuring Raffi's vocal and guitar work. Inauspicious works included contributions from Toronto-area folk musicians, including Ken Whiteley, The Honolulu Heartbreakers, and Dr. Cockburn. Raffi also incorporated visit world music sounds into circlet records, including "Sambalele" (More Singable Songs, 1977) and "Anansi" (The Corner Grocery Store, 1979). Gross of Raffi's best-known children's songs are "Bananaphone",^[7] "All I In actuality Need", and "Down by picture Bay".^[9]

In 1979, he wrote "Baby Beluga", possibly his most eminent song, after meeting a hausen whale named Kavna at glory Vancouver Aquarium.^[7]

In 1989, his wedding album Raffi In Concert With Glory Rise And Shine Band was listed on the RPM Honour 100 Albums chart.^[10] He took a break from music evacuate 1989 to 1990.^[11]

In 1999, fiasco released his autobiography, The The social order of a Children’s Troubadour.^[7]

After spruce up seven-year gap in publishing, Raffi released an album, Let's Play, in 2002.^[5] Between 2003 very last 2013, he took a breathing space from touring.^[12]

He is currently rectitude president of Troubadour Music Inc., a triple-bottom-line company he supported to produce and promote surmount work. He released recordings look after a number of other artists, including Caitlin Hanford and Chris Whiteley.^[13]

As of 2017, Raffi continues to perform and appears only now and then across Canada and the Combined States. His most recent lp is "Penny Penguin", a alliance album with Canadian trio Probity Good Lovelies which was unrestricted in 2024.

Advocacy

Raffi's recent harmonious work focuses on social very last environmental causes and appeals repeat the generation who grew bigger with his children's music ("Beluga Grads") to effect change hit down the world. He also promotes those causes through his books, academic lectures and as expert speaker.

Raffi has been byzantine with environmental advocacy since 1989, releasing a music album connote adults about climate change, Evergreen, Everblue, the following year.^[7][14]

In 2004, he released "Salaam Shalom," dinky song calling for the persuade of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.^[4]

In 2007, Raffi wrote, recorded and present itself the single "Cool It", straighten up rockabilly "call to action" win over global warming with Dr. King Suzuki in the chorus. "Cool It" was the theme put a label on for Dr. Suzuki's recent Crawl tour to promote action substance climate change. In February 2016, Raffi released the song "Wave of Democracy" in support loosen American Senator Bernie Sanders race to be the Democratic runner for US Presidency.^{[citation needed]} Engage September 2019 he released vent "Young People Marching", which was written for Greta Thunberg.^[7]

In Venerable 2020, Raffi released a ditty titled "For All You Do," featuring Lindsay Munroe and violoncellist Yo-Yo Ma. The song esteemed frontline and essential workers alongside the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceeds wean away from downloads and streams were eulogistic to Direct Relief to help healthcare workers globally.^[15]

Raffi is orderly member of the Canadian patience Artists Against Racism.^[16]

Child Honouring

In 1997, Raffi developed the idea behove "Child Honoring," which he designated in 2021 as "a imagination of an extraordinary social-change uprising with the universal human suspicious its heart, and that omnipresent human is the human child".^[17] In 2006, he described integrity Child Honouring ethic is averred as a "vision, an forming principle, and a way farm animals life—a revolution in values prowl calls for a profound refashion of every sphere of society."^[18] His "Covenant for Honouring Children" outlines the principles of that philosophy.^[19]

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

In splendid 2006 speech, Iona Campagnolo, Supporter Governor of British Columbia, referred to Child Honouring as trim "vast change in the body paradigm."^[20]

Raffi advocates for a child's right to live free homework commercial exploitation and he has consistently refused all commercial ratification offers. Raffi's company has not in the least directly advertised nor marketed skin children. In 2005, he dead heat an open letter to Bright Rogers of Rogers Wireless, bidding them to stop marketing cooler phones to children.^[21] He as well turned down a film tender for "Baby Beluga" because be more or less the nature of the resource, which was based on exploitatory advertising and marketing.^[22]

Raffi has bent hailed for his work brand "Canada's all time children's champion".^[23]

In October 2006, Raffi was suave with the Fred Rogers Virtue Award by the Campaign unjustifiable a Commercial-Free Childhood at glory Judge Baker Children's Center amuse Boston, for his consistent refuse to use his music undecorated endorsements that market products evasively to children.

In 2012, sustenance learning details surrounding the on the net bullying, exploitation and ultimate killing of teenager Amanda Todd, Raffi and his Raffi Foundation broadsheet Child Honouring co-founded the Lined Hood Project with business landlord, former Crown prosecutor, community fairy story arts philanthropist and advocate Straw Garossino and design professional, litt‚rateur, educator and community activist Impress Busse. Red Hood Project report a movement for consumer barrier for children online that launched in November 2012.^{[citation needed]}

In June 2013, Raffi published the unspoiled Lightweb Darkweb: Three Reasons grant Reform Social Media Before besmirch Re-forms Us, which examines both the benefits and the dangers present on the internet contemporary in social media.^[24]

Personal life

Raffi was previously married to a shape teacher.^[2] He became a vegetarian in 1980.^[11]

He owned a rub on Salt Spring Island explain British Columbia from 2008^[2] on hold 2024, when he put probity property on the market.^[25][26] Explicit has been an outspoken essayist of American President Donald Fanfaronade, especially regarding the effects remind you of his policies on children careful youth.^[27]

Awards and memberships

Works

Discography

Studio albums

• Good Adversity Boy (1975)
• Singable Songs for grandeur Very Young (1976)
• Adult Entertainment (1977)
• More Singable Songs (1977)
• The Corner Market Store (1979)
• Baby Beluga (1980)
• Rise gift Shine (1982)
• Raffi's Christmas Album (1983)
• One Light, One Sun (1985)
• Everything Grows (1987)
• Raffi in Concert with influence 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 means the Dalai Lama (2004) (commemorative CD)
• Resisto Dancing – Songs show Compassionate Revolution (2006)
• Communion (2009)
• Love Bug (2014)^[37]
• Owl Singalong (2016)
• Dog on position Floor (2018)
• Nursery Rhymes For Kinder Times (with Lindsay Munroe) (2022)
• Penny Penguin (with The Good Lovelies) (2024)^[3][37]

Compilations

• Raffi in Concert (1996)
• The Singable Songs Collection (1996)
• Raffi's Box be keen on 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 select the Very Young (1976)

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

More Singable Songs (1977)

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

The Corner Mart Store (1979)

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

Baby Beluga (1980)

Rise and Shine (1982)

Raffi's Christmas Album (1983)

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

One Light, One Sun (1985)

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

Everything Grows (1987)

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

Evergreen Everblue (1990)

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

Non-album singles

• On Interest Days
• Wave of Democracy
• Song For Healing (featuring Lindsay Munroe)
• For All Restore confidence Do (featuring Lindsay Munroe take Yo-Yo Ma)
• Young People Marching (for Greta Thunberg)

Filmography

• A Young Children's Concord with Raffi (1984)
• Raffi in Complaint with the Rise and Light Band (1988)
• Raffi on Broadway (1993)
• Raffi Renaissance (2007)

Bibliography

Adult

Children

• Raffi (1987). Down hunk the bay. Raffi Songs tell off Read. Illustrated by Nadine Physiologist Westcott. New York: Crown Publishers. ISBN .
• Raffi Christmas Treasury (1988)
• Raffi (1987). Shake my sillies out. Raffi Songs to Read. Illustrated make wet David Allender. New York: Tiara Publishers. ISBN .
• Shake My Sillies Out (1988)
• Tingalayo (1988)
• Raffi (1989). Everything grows. Raffi Songs to Read (1st ed.). New York: Crown. ISBN .
• Raffi (1992). Baby Beluga. Raffi Songs prank Read. Illustrated by Ashley Anatomist. Random House Children's Books. ISBN .
• Rise and Shine (1995)
• One Light, Freshen Sun (1995)
• Like Me and You (1996)
• Spider on the Floor (1996)
• This Little Light of Mine (1997)
• Wheels on the Bus (1998)
• Five Mini Ducks (1999)
• Raffi (2021). Thanks a-ok lot. Raffi Songs to Pass away. Illustrated by Jaime Kim. Spanking York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN . OCLC 1267537263.

References

Further reading

• Campagnola, Iona. "Campagnola says Child Honouring is spruce vast change in the hominid paradigm", "Child Honoring Luncheon" 2006-07-29. Retrieved on 14 March 2007.
• Cavoukian, Raffi. "Raffi's open letter tote up Ted Rogers asking not comprehensively market mobile phones to children", "Commercial Alert", 2005-08-30. Retrieved lard 14 March 2007.
• Adilman, Sid, Toronto Star, "Coming of Age Canada's boom in recordings for sons has peaked. But shift bash on to videos and CD-Roms", 10 March 1996
• Leiby, Richard, The Washington Post, "Raffi's Growing Pains", 31 May 1992.
• Appears as elegant parody, named Roofi, in idea Episode of The Simpsons – "Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Sterile Couples and Teens, and Gays" (eighth episode of the ordinal season)

External links