Daniel Rodriguez.html



Daniel Rodriguez
Background information
Birth name	Daniel Rodriguez
Also known as	America's Tenor
Born	May 24, 1964 (1964-05-24) (age 44) Brooklyn, New York
Origin	Brooklyn, New York, USA
Genre(s)	Opera, pop
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1980 - Present
Label(s)	Blix Street Records
Website	Official Website

Daniel Rodriguez (born May 24, 1964 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American operatic tenor from New York City. He became known as "The Singing Policeman" in his former work with the New York City Police Department, due to his role as one of the department's designated National Anthem singers. In the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks, he received widespread attention with his rendition of "God Bless America", which he sang at memorial events and on television. This led to an offer of formal training from Placido Domingo. He has now recorded several albums, appeared in opera, in symphony concerts, and performs in support of numerous charities.

Biography

Early years

Of Puerto Rican descent, Rodriguez was born May 24, 1964 in Brooklyn, New York. His entire family was interested in music, with both his father and grandfather singing and others playing various musical instruments.¹ Rodriguez also cites the singing of Mario Lanza as an important musical influence.² At the age of ten, Rodriguez began to study singing in earnest, and a few years following, joined the American Youth Repertory Company in Manhattan, where he would later act as assistant director.³⁴ When Rodriguez was twelve years old, a prominent figure in the New York music industry began giving him free voice lessons, and arranged for his first recital in Studio 856 at Carnegie Hall when Rodriguez was sixteen. A year later he gave another recital at Carnegie's Weill Hall.⁵⁶ During his early years, he studied with Juilliard trained Aldo Bruschi, Juilliard-trained Elliot Dorfman, and Miraslov Markoff from the Moscow Ballet and Opera company.

After Rodriguez married at 19 and had a son, his mentor decided he had dropped music as his first priority and withdrew his support in disapproval. With this loss of an important connection in the music world, Rodriguez became depressed and stopped pursuing a singing career for five years.⁵ He worked at many different jobs, including short order cook, caterer, taxi driver, truck driver, and postal worker, before finally joining the police force.¹ At 25, Rodriguez decided to once again attempt a music career, beginning by performing in concerts he developed himself, and eventually organizing an ensemble of musicians called Broadway Magic.⁷

Career Highlights

Rodriguez entered the New York City Police Academy in 1995.⁵ After singing at his own graduation, he was chosen as one of the designated National Anthem singers in the NYPD's ceremonial division.⁸ New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani who had seen Rodriguez perform at various events, used his influence to arrange an audition for him at the Metropolitan Opera. His lack of classical training proved an insurmountable obstacle, however, and the Met dismissed him after he had sung but two notes.¹

In 2001, he was the subject of a Cable News Network special about a New York City police officer who had sung at Carnegie Hall.⁹ He was also interviewed in 2002 and 2005 by the The Christophers on their program titled Christopher Close-up. ¹⁰

Rodriguez was on duty in New York City at the time of the September 11th terrorist attack, and was two blocks away from the World Trade Center when it collapsed.¹¹ Performing at many post 9/11 events, he received much media attention for his performances of "God Bless America".¹² He was soon appearing on news and talk shows including, The Today Show, The Early Show, Larry King Live, The David Letterman Show, and Live with Regis and Kelly.¹³¹⁴¹⁵ The Los Angeles Times published article by Jeff Rivers of the Hartford Courant, who wrote: "Daniel Rodríguez put his arms around America and dried its tears with his voice." ¹⁶

Rodriguez performed at the September 23rd, 2001 "Prayer For America" concert, honoring the victims of the September 11th terror attacks. Placido Domingo, who was also on the bill, heard him sing and invited him to attend the Domingo/Vilar Young Artists Institute in Washington D.C. for 18 months of opera study.¹⁷¹⁸¹⁹ Rodriguez has been quoted as saying "Watching the Twin Towers collapse didn't make me sing any better. But the passion for the music has changed and for what I represent: The comfort and the feeling of national pride that I bring now more than I did before."²⁰ After seven years as a police officer and then launching a career as a singer, Rodriguez explains "I wasn't a cop who started singing; I was a singer who became a cop...I've been given the gift to sing. I sing for those who have lost loved ones." ²¹

At Carnegie Hall's 111th season opening, October 2001, Rodriguez sang "God Bless America," with the Berlin Philharmonic in a tribute to 9-11. ²² His first performance before a world-wide audience occurred at the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.August of 2002, he performed at the Hollywood Bowl in "The Great American Concert: New York, New York" with John Mauceri conducting. ²³ In 2003 he sang the National Anthem at the Indianapolis 500. ²⁴

He performed at Ford's Theater Gala Celebration in 2002, attended by President George W. Bush.²⁵²⁶ Other Capitol Hill performances were the Memorial Day concerts in Washington D.C. in 2002 and 2006, and the "Celebration of Freedom" concert in January, 2005, honoring Bush's second inauguration as President.²⁷²⁸²⁹ He also appeared at the Republican National Convention in New York at Madison Square Garden in 2004.³⁰ In 2002 President Bush paid tribute to Mr. Rodriguez with the following words: "I want to thank Daniel Rodriguez for lending his fabulous voice in tribute after tribute to the greatness of America."³¹

With his emerging success as a singer of both popular and classical music, Officer Rodriguez retired from the New York City Police Department in May 2004, to pursue music full time.¹¹

In 2004, at the invitation of the IPA (International Police Association), Rodriguez traveled to Monaco with the "Pipes and Drums of the Chicago Police Department," where he sang for Albert II, Prince of Monaco.³² He also sang at a Memorial Mass at New York City's Cathedral of Saint Patrick, for His Serene Highness Rainier III, Prince of Monaco who died April 6, 2005.³³ In 2004 Rodriguez performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, as host of the Christmas Yuletide Celebration concert series, with Jack Everly principal pops conductor. In 2005 he hosted the inaugural production of Holiday Spectacular at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. ³⁴³⁵ Beginning in 2004, he has performed in concert in New Zealand and Europe.^{3637 38}In June he traveled to Aichi, Japan for Expo 2005 World's Fair, where he performed at the US Pavilion.³⁹

In May of 2005 Rodriguez appeared as the musical guest on the second season of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. ⁴⁰ In June he performed his debut with the Boston Pops Orchestra at Symphony Hall. In September 2005, Rodriguez appeared on QVC, performing "Into The Fire" to promote the West Point Glee Club "Stand Ye Steady CD & DVD. ⁴¹

Rodriguez made his operatic debut as Canio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci in New York City with the Chelsea Opera Company in June 2006, ^{12 42}and in 2007 performed again as Canio with Granite State Opera Company in New Hampshire, where he was awarded 2007 best performance of a leading male, by Operaonline. ⁴³ In 2008 he sang the role of Turridu in Cavalleria rusticana with the Opera of the Hamptons. ⁴⁴⁴⁵

Personal Life

Mr. Rodriguez is married to Marla Kavanaugh, a soprano who has performed around the world in concert and in opera. She was born in Dunedin, New Zealand and began her stage career at the age of five. Daniel and Marla have a permanent residence in New York, and travel the world perfoming together. Daniel has a son and daughter from his first marriage. ⁴⁶⁴⁷ He lists fishing as his favorite pasttime, and is also an experienced scuba diver. ⁴⁸

Philanthropy

Rodriguez devotes a large part of his schedule to appearances around the world for foundations and programs that benefit handicapped children, retired people, combating illness, veterans charities, and anything of a spiritual nature. "I lived the horrors of 9/11 and made peace with God several times that day, and said goodbye to my family once or twice, and realized I was meant to stick around and do something positive with my life."⁴⁹

In 2005, Rodriguez began a project called "Songs for the Soldiers", to provide CD's in USO care packages for deployed troops. He has donated thousands of his CD's and also raises funds for this effort by producing and performing in benefit concerts, seen in smaller venues around the country. He also works with other volunteers filling the care packages, and handing them out to the departing troops. ^{5051 5253} He makes frequent appearances for The City of Hope National Medical Center, the United Service Organizations, and Loma Linda Medical Center Children's Hospital. ⁵⁴⁵⁵⁵⁶ He is a regular at the golf tournaments to raise funds for The Jimmy V Foundation for cancer research, and the Hilton Head Celebrity Golf Tournament to benefit children's charities, as well as the annual New York Tunnel to Towers run to benefit the Stephen Siller foundation, ⁵⁷⁵⁸⁵⁹ He has made several appearances with the VA-National Medical Music Group, ⁶⁰ and supports the Community Mayors Organization, where he is an honorary board member. ⁶¹

Honors and Awards

• 2002 Disney Humanitarian award.⁶²

• 2003 The first Raul Julia Award, by the Puerto Rican Family Institute, in appreciation of his charitable work. ⁶³

• 2004 Monaco IPA Association Humanity Award.⁶⁴

• 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award from the USO for his work on the Care Package Program. ⁶⁵

• 2007 The Great Americans Award by Winning Beyond Winning. ⁶⁶

• 2007: Queens Centers for Progress Humanitarian Award for making a difference in the life of all Americans. ⁶⁷

• 2007 the Ellen Harden Woolworth Medal for Patriotism by the Daughters of the American Revolution. ⁶⁸

• 2008 Honored by "Stars" page for inclusion on USA Patriotism site. ⁶⁹

• 2008 The Paul Harris Award, for "Service above self," by Rotary International. ⁷⁰

Discography

Daniel Rodriguez

Various with Rodriguez tracks

References

External links

• Official Website
• Tribute Website
• Google informational site