Raffi: the Armenian-Canadian singer behind "Baby Beluga" and "Down by the Bay"
Millions of parents know Raffi's songs without knowing he is Armenian. Here is his family's story, how "Baby Beluga" came about, and the songs to put on first.
By The Armenly team. Written November 11, 2026.
- About The Armenly team — The people who build and check the Armenly catalog of Armenian music.
Key findings
- Raffi was born Raffi Cavoukian in Cairo on July 8, 1948, to Armenian Christian parents who fled Turkey during the Armenian Genocide [1].
- His mother named him after the Armenian novelist Raffi [1].
- The family moved to Canada in 1958 and settled in Toronto. His first album, Singable Songs for the Very Young, came out in 1976 [1].
- "Down By The Bay" and "Baby Beluga" are the two most played songs in the whole Armenly catalog, with about 130 and 127 million Spotify plays (catalog of September 17, 2026).
An Armenian family from Cairo to Toronto
His parents were Armenian Christians who fled Turkey during the Genocide. Raffi was born in Cairo, and his mother, Lucie, named him after the Armenian novelist Raffi. His mother sang to him and his father played the accordion [1].
The family left Egypt in 1952, lived in Jerusalem and Syria, and reached Canada in 1958. His father, Arto Cavoukian, became a portrait photographer in Toronto, and his sister Ann Cavoukian was later Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner. Raffi visited Soviet Armenia once, in 1972 [1].
Baby Beluga and the songs everyone knows
He first sang for children in 1974, at a nursery school, and his first album, Singable Songs for the Very Young, was recorded in a friend's basement and released in 1976. He wrote "Baby Beluga" in 1979 after meeting a beluga whale named Kavna at the Vancouver Aquarium [1]. The Washington Post called him "the most popular children's singer in the English-speaking world" [1].
- Down By The Bay — Raffi — about 130 million plays
- Baby Beluga — Raffi — about 127 million plays
- Shake My Sillies Out — Raffi — about 73 million plays
- Apples And Bananas — Raffi — about 71 million plays
- Wheels On The Bus — Raffi — about 69 million plays
- Bananaphone — Raffi — about 49 million plays
Songs for grown-ups, too
Since 1989 he has also written about the environment, starting with Evergreen, Everblue, an album about climate change for adults. In 1997 he began his "child honoring" philosophy, and he founded the Raffi Foundation to promote it [1].
Armenian songs for the same age
If you want the same kind of songs in Armenian, start with Taline, who records Armenian children's music, or with the Kids & Family shelf.
- Armenian children's songs: the alphabet song, Taline and more
- Kids & Family — the shelf
- Raffi — all his songs on Armenly
Questions people ask
Is Raffi Armenian?
Yes. Raffi Cavoukian was born in Cairo in 1948 to Armenian parents who had fled the Genocide, and grew up in Toronto.
What is Raffi's full name?
Raffi Cavoukian. He performs under his first name, which his mother took from the Armenian novelist Raffi.
When did Raffi write "Baby Beluga"?
In 1979, after meeting a beluga whale named Kavna at the Vancouver Aquarium.
Where can I play Raffi's songs for free?
On Armenly, in any browser, with no account and no ads. "Down By The Bay" and "Baby Beluga" are both there.
Sources
- [1] Raffi — Wikipedia, read November 11, 2026
Cite this page
The Armenly team, "Raffi: the Armenian-Canadian singer behind "Baby Beluga" and "Down by the Bay"." Armenly, November 11, 2026. https://armenly.com/guides/raffi
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