Surprise appearance: "Patriotism, Pride, Character" conference, Waukesha, WI
September 11, 2012
New Fairfield CT. 'Singing Policeman' at 9/11 ceremony
The News-Times Freelance
John Pirro
NEW FAIRFIELD, CT -- If he had turned left instead of right on Sept. 11, 2001, Danny Rodriguez said, he probably wouldn't be alive today.
But an inner voice told him to check in at the borough commander's office, where he was assigned, after exiting the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, instead of following the convoy of emergency vehicles he had joined on his way to work that morning. The voice, and his police officer training, reminded him to "let someone know where you are," Rodriguez told some 200 people outside the New Fairfield Senior Center on Sunday. "Otherwise, I would have ended up where the towers came down. That's why I'm here today," he said.
Dubbed the "Singing Policeman" for his inspirational singing, Rodriguez headlined the town's 9/11 memorial ceremony, which also featured a prayer service and the dedication of a brass and granite memorial that includes the names of three people with ties to New Fairfield -- Christopher Blackwell, Candace Williams and Robert Higley -- who perished as the result of the terrorist attacks that day.
"It doesn't get any easier," said Don Blackwell, whose son was one of 343 New York City firefighters, EMTs and paramedics killed when the twin towers collapsed.Gesturing to the plaque, Blackwell said, "People just talk to me about it, and I get all choked up." Money for the memorial came from anonymous donations from about 50 New Fairfield residents, former state Rep. Mary Ann Carson said.
Standing before a giant American flag under threatening skies that he joked "looked like a Cecil B. DeMille movie," Rodriguez drew sustained applause after each of his songs, which he dedicated to those who died in the attacks and members of the military serving on the front lines of the war against terror.
Between the numbers, Rodriguez spoke movingly of his experiences on Sept. 11 and afterward, when his fame increased as a result of his performances at the 2002 Winter Olympics, the PBS Memorial Day concert in Washington, the 2004 Republican National Convention and other high-profile events.
The outdoor concert was cut short by rain.
Calling Sept. 11, "Pearl Harbor for our generation," First Selectman John Hodge said he would like to see it eventually transformed into a day of recognition for all first responders.
"They knew what they were in for," he said, yet the firefighters and police officers who rushed into the towers saved thousands of other lives by their sacrifice.
Kiwi voice soars at 9/11 memorial service
Elle Hunt, stuff.co.nz, Sept 11, 2012
JOINED IN SONG: Marla Rodriguez performed The Star-Spangled Banner at the former site of the World Trade Center in New York while her husband, Daniel, sang the national anthem at a 9/11 memorial service at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii at the same time.
A Kiwi opera singer with a personal connection to 9/11 has sung the American national anthem at Ground Zero in a service marking the 11th anniversary of the terror attacks.
Dunedin-born soprano Marla Rodriguez performed The Star-Spangled Banner at an early-morning service at the former site of the World Trade Center yesterday.
At the same time, her husband, tenor Daniel Rodriguez, sang the national anthem at a 9/11 memorial service at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii.
Rodriguez, known as the singing policeman, was a member of the New York Police Department at the time of the Twin Towers attacks. As the official soloist for the department's ceremonial unit, he sang at the funerals of several of his slain colleagues, and later at memorial events. He attracted the attention of Spanish tenor Placido Domingo, who mentored him and launched his singing career.
He met Marla at an audition in Auckland; they now have a 3-year-old daughter, Alexandra.
Speaking to The Dominion Post a few hours before her performance, Marla said she was not nervous but was a little worried about how emotional the occasion would be.
She had been woken at 3am to get ready, and said: "Actually the thing I'm most nervous about is that I've decided . . . I'm going to do a short nasal warmup, so I hope my neighbours will forgive me."
During the World Trade Center attack her husband had been on a day off, and was driving back from Staten Island when he saw smoke pouring from the first tower. He arrived at the scene just in time to have to flee with thousands of others when the second tower collapsed.
Marla and twin sister Marissa, who lives in Sydney, inherited their love of opera from their mother, soprano and former Mobil Song Quest winner Kathi Craig, while growing up in Dunedin.
She taught them both singing from the age of 15.
"At the start I wouldn't teach them, because I felt they were too young, but they used to listen at the studio door while I was teaching other students, and then they'd go and practise on their own. I had no choice."
Ms Craig said it was an honour for Marla, who performs under the name Marla Kavanaugh as part of the Highland Divas trio, to perform at yesterday's service.
Sept. 6, 2012: Arts Around Town
Allentown Community Concert Association marks 85th anniversary with world tenors
Author: Susan Kalan, WFMZ.com Arts Reporter
Georgia Chomicky knew exactly what she wanted for her music organization’s 85th anniversary season series, and she wanted to kick it off with a gala opening for her 1,000-plus patrons in a night to remember. Her programming efforts are sure to be met with heartfelt thanks on Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m., when the curtain rises at Parkland High School for three world tenors accompanied by the country’s oldest civilian concert band.
Chomicky, who heads the Allentown Community Concert Association, will take the stage to personally greet her audience and run down the entertainment slated through April 2013: Benny Goodman Tribute “The King of Swing” on Oct. 19; The Dallas Brass on Nov. 16; Forever Irish with Andy Cooney on March 8, and the Philadelphia Organ Quartet on April 19.
Then it will be a special introduction for “Tres Voce,” featuring three of the world’s best tenors – Daniel Rodriguez, Ciaran Sheehan and Karl Scully. The trio will perform under the baton of Ronald Demkee and the Allentown Band who, for the first time, will be part of the local Community Concert series in a special invitation from Chomicky.
Demkee has assembled what should be an outstanding program for the evening, with the three tenors singing Broadway, opera and a few surprises in between. It will include a tribute to renowned American composer and conductor Marvin Hamlisch, whom Rodriguez performed with about 10 years ago when Hamlisch was a guest conductor with the Florida Orchestra in Tampa Bay. Hamlisch passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 6.
Rodriguez is easily recognizable as New York City’s “Singing Policeman” who helped to uplift the spirit of our country with promise and hope with his stirring rendition of the national anthem at the first Yankee game after 9/11. He officially retired from the force in 2004, and his tag line was updated in the media as “America’s Beloved Tenor.”
He recently performed in the Lehigh Valley on Aug. 17, at Easton’s State Theatre, as part of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the Gary Sinise Foundation tour. Monies are raised to build “smart homes” for America’s returning severely injured soldiers so they can lead independent lives. The Easton engagement was in support of local hero Sgt. Adam Keys of Whitehall.
Rodriguez was singing long before 9/11. As a youngster of Puerto Rican heritage, he was inspired by the tenor voices of his father and grandfather. In junior high school, he was a member of the American Youth Repertoire in Manhattan and was mentored by Juilliard-trained Elliot Dorfman. With a baritone voice that had not yet matured for tenor roles, his performances extended to recital halls at Carnegie Hall. An opportunity in his early 20’s to join the New York City Police Department allowed him security and also the benefit of being able to continue his singing in off hours. His singing soared in the community and he soon became known as “The Singing Policeman” for official functions and even some special events on Broadway.
Rodriguez said he was poised to take over the role of Jean Valjean in Broadway’s “Les Miserables” right before the tragedy of 9/11. But all that changed after driving over the Verrazano Bridge that fateful morning to begin his shift with the NYPD and learning that the first plane had struck the World Trade Center. He was on the ground near the buildings when they collapsed. The next several months were a turning point in his life, working at the morgue at Ground Zero and singing at hundreds of memorials and funerals. His music proved to be not only healing, but a calling. The opera world’s Placido Domingo was so moved by hearing him sing at “Prayer for America” after 9/11 that he took him under his wing to study at his Young Artists Program in Washington, D.C.
The voice of Rodriguez has inspired presidents and princes, and audiences around the world. He’s performed with the USO and major symphony orchestras, at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden, the Crystal Cathedral in California, and on national television talk shows. He’s recorded CD’s of inspirational, patriotic and Broadway songs, with an upcoming album of Latin songs. He currently performs with the Chelsea Opera in New York. Though he admits he’s an avid fisherman (“fly, deep sea, trophy”) in his down time, his major time is filled with benefit appearances for the numerous causes he supports. However, he said with no hesitation, his ultimate is “to sing on a Broadway stage” and “do the Mario Lanza story.” Lanza was an American tenor and actor in the late 1940s and 50s.
He will be returning to Easton’s State Theatre on Dec. 1, as part of “The New York Tenors Christmas: Memories of Herald Square,” sharing the stage with Andy Cooney and Michael Amante.
Rodriguez is married to New Zealand native Marla Kavanaugh, a soprano and member of the musical trio, The Highland Divas, with Margaret Kelly of “Cats” and Amy Rivard of “Celtic Woman.”
“I’m very, very happy I’m still doing what I love to do,” Rodriguez said. “I feel blessed that I was born to be where I am, and to be able to share the gift God has given me. …I’m just an ordinary man with an extraordinary job.”
May 20, 2012: Music sparks patriotism
Former New York City police officer Daniel Rodriguez performs “Bring Him Home”
during A Celebration of Freedom at Troy’s Hobart Arena Sunday evening.
At Sunday's Celebration of Freedom concert, Daniel Rodriguez joked that he received his first ever key to a city - that city being Troy, of course - but that the locks seemed to be changed.
Despite his lighthearted comments, Rodriguez was serious about honoring America's heroes during the special concert at Hobart Arena, in which he performed with the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight. The event was dedicated to all the safety responders and armed forces who have served and continue to serve the nation, as well as victims of the
Sept. 11 attacks and their families.
"I am honored, humbled and moved honestly to be here playing with the band..." said Rodriguez, who's known as "The Singing Policeman" for his dynamic performances. "Thank you, Troy, for remembering our first responders and all those who sacrificed themselves on that day."
Hosted by the Miami Valley Veterans Museum, the 7 p.m. concert featured patriotic selections including "America the Beautiful," "The Stars and Stripes Forever" and "God Bless America."
The audience was brought to its feet when Rodriguez was introduced a few songs into the show.
Major R. Michael Mench, conductor of the Band of Flight, said Rodriguez inspired Americans during one of the roughest periods of U.S. history.
"He comforted us in the days, weeks, months and years after (9/11) with his music," Mench said. Rodriguez performed for memorial events and had several TV appearances.
Sept. 11, 2001, is one of several days in American history that will never be forgotten, said master of ceremonies Frank Beeson, publisher of I-75 Newspaper group including the Troy Daily News.
Those other moments in time include the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the release of Iranian hostages following Ronald Reagan's inauguration and the Challenger accident. Mayor Michael Beamish thanked all those who made the concert possible and helped in preserving and
bringing the World Trade Center artifact to Troy.
"Troy is special because of many partnerships," he said. Sponsors included The Troy Foundation, I-75 Newspapers, the city of Troy, Hobart Arena and Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, among many others.
Scott Mazzulla, director of planning and development of Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, paid tribute to the World Trade Center artifact that will proudly be displayed in the Miami Valley Veterans Museum. The piece was dedicated earlier in the weekend. "I can tell you I spent a lot of time with this piece. It touches you. It moves you," he said. Stephen Larck, president of the museum, said Sunday's program served as a reminder that Americans must not forget the price others have paid for our freedom.
"Today we're here to honor and celebrate these heroes," Larck said, adding that the audience should leave with "a renewed sense of pride and patriotism."
Video: "An American Hymn" Troy Ohio 2012 with USAF Band of Flight
