24 Facts About Raffi

Raffi 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.

Raffi has 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.

Raffi was born in Cairo, Egypt, to Armenian Christian parents who fled Turkey during the Armenian genocide.

Raffi was exposed to music at a young age, as his mother sang to him and his father sang and played accordion.

Raffi's father, Arto Cavoukian, was a well-known portrait photographer with a studio on Bloor Street in Toronto.

Raffi's older brother, Onnig Cavoukian, known as Cavouk, is a famous portrait photographer.

Raffi's parents died within twelve hours of each other, his mother dying first of abdominal cancer.

Raffi befriended Lacey, a folk guitarist from Oakville, Ontario, who helped Raffi improve his finger picking.

Raffi incorporated many world music sounds into his records, including "Sambalele" and "Anansi".

Raffi released recordings for a number of other artists, including Caitlin Hanford and Chris Whiteley.

Raffi 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 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.

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.

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

In 1997, Raffi developed the idea of "Child Honoring," 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".

Raffi's company has never directly advertised nor marketed to children.

Raffi 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 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.

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

Raffi owned a home on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia from 2008 until 2024, when he put the property on the market.

Raffi has been an outspoken critic of American President Donald Trump, especially regarding the effects of his policies on children and youth.