Raf (singer)
An Italian pop craftsman who soared to global fame with the synth-driven 'Self Control' before reinventing himself as a sophisticated singer-songwriter at home.
Born 1959 (age 67)·Italian singer-songwriter·Birthday: September 29·Baby Boomers
Biography
Raf's career is a tale of two distinct musical lives. Born Raffaele Riefoli, he first captured the international spotlight in the 1980s as a sleek figure in the Italo disco scene. His voice, cool and detached, glided over the pulsating synthesizers of 'Self Control,' a track that became an instant anthem across continents. Rather than chase further global dance hits, Raf made a deliberate and surprising pivot. He retreated to Italy and dedicated himself to crafting thoughtful, guitar-based pop in his native language. This second act, marked by poetic lyrics and melodic sophistication, earned him a deeper, more enduring respect in Italy, transforming him from a one-hit wonder abroad into a staple of Italian adult contemporary radio.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Raf was born in 1959, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Raf Was Born
The biggest hits of 1959
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur
Best Picture
Ben-Hur
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Raf's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1959Born
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1964Started school
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1972Became a teenager
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1975Could drive
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1977Could vote
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Turned 21
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1989Turned 30
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 40
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 50
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 60
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 67 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote and performed the 1984 worldwide hit 'Self Control,' which reached number one in several countries.
- His 1993 Italian-language album 'Cannibali' was a major critical and commercial success, going multi-platinum.
- Won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1996 with the song 'Dentro me.'
Did You Know?
The iconic song 'Self Control' was originally written and produced by Steve Piccolo and Michael Gaffey; Raf provided the vocals and co-wrote the Italian lyrics.
He is a trained surveyor but chose to pursue music full-time after early success.
Raf is known for being intensely private and rarely gives television interviews.
“Self control is just a moment, the time to open the door.”
