Raffi Cavoukian was born on July 8th, 1948 to Armenian parents in Cairo, Egypt. Raffi's mother named him after the Armenian poet Raffi. Raffi spent his early years in Egypt, but in 1958 the Cavoukian family immigrated to Canada and eventually settled in Toronto.

A friend of Raffi's, John Lacey, a folk guitarist, helped Raffi to improve his guitar skills. Raffi played in various coffee houses in Toronto and Montreal, before setting off to Vancouver to expand his musical career. At one time Raffi also ran a coffee house at the University of Toronto. A few years later Raffi returned to Toronto, and was invited to sing at a school. Raffi was an immediate success and that marked that start of Raffi's stellar career in children's entertainment. Since then Raffi moved to Victoria, in British Columbia.

Raffi has had extensive influence as a singer and songwriter with such well-known songs such as "Bananaphone," "Baby Beluga," "Down By the Bay," and "Shake My Sillies Out". He has expanded his success in music to become a music producer, author and entrepreneur. He is also widely regarded for his efforts on humanitarian and environmental causes. In 2007 Raffi teamed up with Dr David Suzuki in the campaign to scale back global warming.

Awards and memberships:

* Raffi received the Order of Raffi received the Canada (1983)
* Raffi received the Order of British Columbia (2001)
* Raffi received the United Nations' Earth Achievement Award
* Raffi received the Doctor of Music, from the University of Victoria (honorary degree)
* Raffi received the Doctor of letters, from the University of British Columbia (honorary degree)
* Raffi received the Fred Rogers Integrity Award (2006)

Raffi is associated with several NGOs, including the Council of Human Development, the Darwin Project Council, the Center for Partnership Studies, the Center for Children's health and the Environment, and the Center for Early Child Development.

Raffi's sister is Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner.