Rafi was born on 24th December 1924 in Kotla Sultan Singh, Amritsar, in a middle class Muslim family. His elder brother, Janab Hamid Sahab, was the first to take notice of the divine gift in Rafi's coice. He decided to concentrate all his efforts in providing all the support needed by his brother to make it big in the music world.

At the age of seven, Rafi learnt Hindustani Classical music under the renowned Ustaad Bade Gulam Ali Khan and Vahida Khan. Mohd Rafi started his career at the age of 20, with a punjabi song, Soniye Hiriye, teri yaad ne bahut sataya for the movie Gul Baloch, which was released on 28th February, 1944. The producer was Sham Sunderji, who was very much impressed by Rafi's style of singing and did not think twice on booking Rafi for all his future films. He acted in couple of films Laila Majnu,1945 and Jugnu, 1947. Rafi made his mark with Tera Khilona Toota Balak in Anmol Ghari, 1946.

Rafi was invited by Nasir, a well-known actor of those times to Bombay. From this point, there was no turning back. Rafi sang for Shamji Sundarji's production Gaon Ki Gori. This movie was also a great hit. With this hit, Rafi was called Play Back Singer. He was famous and settled play back singer around 1948.

K.L.Saigal & Pandit Paulsikar had no words for Rafi's praise. When Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, Rafi sang a song Suno Suno Ay Duniya Walon, Bapu ki Yeh Amar kahani written by Rajinder Krishan and music by Hunslal Bhagatram, which touched everyone and was a great hit.

Whenever there used be a fusion of Naushad's music, Shakeel Badayuni's lyrics and Rafi's voice, that number would become a super-duper hit. These three were quite a team then. Their songs were being heard in all corners of the streets. In fact, those songs are equally melodious now. Heworked with different music directors but the one who recognised and exploited his immense talent was Naushad. His first song for Naushad was Hindustan ke hum hain Hindustan hai hamara in the film Pehle Aap.

The duo went on to bring out hits in films such as Baiju Bawra and Mere Mehboob, to name a few. Rafi's other fruitful partnership was with S D Burman for whom he delivered hits in movies such as Kagaz Ke Phool, Guide, Tere Ghar Ke Samne and Pyaasa. During the 1960s, Rafi began singing for Shammi Kapoor, rendering hits such as Kashmir Ki Kali, Brahmachari and Teesri Manzil. Some of his memorable songs were Baharon phool barsao for Rajendra Kumar and Pukarta chala hoon main for Biswajeet. Rafi also sang duets with Lata Mangeshkar, most of which were hits, including Dheere dheere chal, Tasveer teri dil mein and Tujhe jeevan ki dor se.

Aradhana, 1969 and the Rajesh Khanna wave saw Rafi displaced by Kishore Kumar and the early seventies was a creative nadir for him. But Rafi was not one to quit and made a grand comeback with the Nasir Hussain musical Hum Kissi se Kum Nahin, 197) and Amar Akbar Anthony the same year even winning the National Rajat Kamal Award from President Sanjiva Reddy for Kya Hua Tera Vaadaa for the former.

Rafi could sing any type of song. Let it be pop, qawali, bhajan, gazal, romantic, rock'n'roll, light music, slow numbers, sad song, parody, fast numbers..., anything he was remarkeable. He was the first to fit into the playback singer role in a convincing way.

In his life time, Mohd Rafi has sung over 26,000 superhit songs. Rafi won a host of awards including the National Award for Hum Kissi se Kum Nahin H, the Filmfare Award for the song Chahoonga mein tujhe lekin from Dosti, and the Padmashri award. His last song was Tu kahin aas paas hai dost for Laxmikant Pyarelal in the film Aas Paas. He passed away on July 31, 1980. His immortality is vouched for by the fact that even almost two decades after his death, his popularity remains intact.