He was born in Kozani and after studying in Thessaloniki , he moved to U.S.A where he studied at Berklee and Manhattan School of Music.As a resident of USA he has performed with Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Randy Brecher, Keith Carlock, Roy Hargrove, James Genus, Janis Siegel, Greg Hutchinson, Jeff Andrews, Adam Rogers, Donny Mccaslin, Antonio Sanchez, Adam Crue, Claudia Acuna, Edsel Gomez, Luis Perdomo, Dave Budway, Ron Affif, Steve Hass, John Benitez and numerous other first-call musicians.In 1999 he founded 'Manhattan Vibes' trio, with John Beniter and Steve Hass. Leaded by Rafalides, ' Manhattan Vibes ' have recorded one of the most astonishingly creative, versatile and virtuosic debut albums.

With 'Manhattan Vibes', Rafalides, stakes his claim as the most important new international performer / composer on the vibraphone. In 2004 Rafalides participated in the album 'Echoes' (LM034-2) by Yiorgos Fakanas, with many other important musicians like the trumpeter Wallace Roney, David Lynch (sax), Haig Yazdjian (oud), Nikos Kapilidis (drams) and others. The album was released by LIBRA MUSIC.Rafalides met Harris Labrakis (nej), Panos Dimitrakopoulos (kanonakj) and 30 more musicians in Antonis Apergis' album ' 'Icarus' (LM037 -2), released by LIBRA MUSIC. He also participates in the first personal album of Yiotis Kiourtsoglou, one of the most important Greek bass players. The album will be released by LIBRA MUSIC.