2008 Media Official website
Former NYC Officer Found Mission in Singing
Officer.com
News-Sentinel, The (Fort Wayne, IN) (KRT)
via NewsEdge Corporation
Jul. 7--Before Sept. 11, 2001, he was a New York City police officer
who sang in his spare time. Afterward, it was the opposite.
And besides the change in the amount of time tenor Daniel Rodriguez
spent singing, there was also a change in his motivation.
Rodriguez told the approximately 1,200 people who turned out at The
Chapel on Sunday that before 9/11, his primary motivation for singing
was to attain fame and fortune.
"It was after 9/11 when I sang "Prayer for America" and I stood there
and I realized that God had a gift that he had given me and he had a
ministry for me," Rodriguez said during a church-sponsored tribute to
American emergency responders and soldiers.
"Each of us is given a gift, and it's up to us to find out what that
gift is and when we do, to nurture it, to help it to grow, to make it
the best that it can be."
Rodriguez joked that some people thought he took up singing after
9/11, but it was obvious from his performance that he had been honing
his skills for years. Inspired by his parents, Rodriguez, 44, began
singing at 12 and debuted at Carnegie Hall at 17.
But like a lot of struggling singers, he needed another occupation to
put food on the table, and he becamea police officer in 1994.
The department realized it could benefit from his voice after
Rodriguez sang at his class's academy graduation. In addition to
stints as a beat cop, member of the vice squad and hate crimes unit,
Rodriguez was part of a ceremonial squad of officers who sang the
national anthem at events on behalf of the department.
Before 9/11, he sang the anthem at gubernatorial, presidential and
religious events. In the post-9/11 emotion, a uniformed Rodriguez was
frequently seen singing the anthem and "God Bless America" at funerals
as well as at Yankee Stadium and other venues. Rodriguez said it was a
personal tribute to the victims of the World Trade Center attacks,
civilians, firefighters and police. But in particular, it was a
tribute to the emergency responders who were killed.
"My brothers and sisters who I lost in 9/11 exemplify these words:
honor, valor and courage," Rodriguez told worshippers before singing
'Into the Fire.'
"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,"
Rodriguez said after his performance.
Rodriguez was asked to appear at The Chapel -- a Christian
fundamentalist church that opened in 1994 -- by its pastor, the Rev.
Rick Hawks and his wife, Cathy Hawks. They met Rodriguez in 2003 when
they participated in a Rally for America in Huntington, W.Va., in
support of U.S. soldiers, Cathy Hawks said.
"When I met him in 2003, his heart was bigger than his voice, and it
was evident he was the type of person that we would want to work with
and put in front of the community," said Cathy Hawks, The Chapel music
director. "He's a great role model."
Rodriguez, who retired from the force in 2004, has made three albums
and said he makes up to 160 appearances per year.
"I pretty much live a vagabond's lifestyle, but I love it," he said.
The Chapel welcomes Daniel Rodriguez to celebrate 4th of July
Indianapolis June 2008
Join the Chapel and Daniel Rodriguez, the singing policeman from
New York City, for our annual patriotic celebration, Saturday, July 5
and Sunday, July 6. Daniel Rodriguez is best known for his rendition
of "God Bless America," which he sang at memorial events and on
television during the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Along with Rodriguez's performance, many other opportunities for
the public are available. The Chapel will be collecting cell phones
for soldiers. A drop site will be available for anyone looking to
donate a cell phone to a soldier overseas. With each donated cell
phone a phone card will be given to a serviceman or woman to stay in
touch with family back home. Grissom Air Force Base will be providing
a flight simulator for visitors to experience as well as the local
police and firefighters will have cars and trucks on display.
Event times are Saturday, July 5 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, July 6 at
8:30, 9:45 and 11 a.m. There is no charge.
http://www.fwdailynews.com/articles/2008/06/20/times/times_online/doc485ba823aded0744723210.txt
2008
Issue #14 - June 27, 2008
Daniel Rodriguez To Sing On The NF
NYPD Policeman Turned Singer Will Perform
In Southampton And At Duck Walk North
By Roy Bradbrook.
In the dark days after 9/11, the strong, tenor voice of NYC policeman
Daniel Rodriguez helped to heal us as he sang 'God Bless America' or
the National Anthem at many memorial services including the 'Prayer
for America' event at Yankee Stadium held on September 23rd 2001, with
a truly star studded cast. As a young man Daniel had followed his
dream and trained to become a professional musician and held a recital
at Carnegie Hall before family circumstances forced him to look for a
more immediately secure job. After a spell in the Post Office he
became a member of the NYPD and by some unorthodox maneuvering that
cost him a reprimand, he managed to be finally accepted as an
'Official Singer' for the NYPD's Ceremonial Unit.
Daniel is now taking another step forward in his operatic career,
when he stars in 'Cavelleria Rusticana', Opera of the Hamptons opening
production of their 2008 season, at Dr. Dan Damianos' 'Duck Walk
North' Vineyards in Southold. In this popular one act opera by
Mascagni, Daniel, who will sing the role of Turridu, will be joined by
internationally acclaimed soprano, Christina Fontanelli, as Santuzza.
Baritone Gustavo Ahualli sings the role of Alfio with mezzo-soprano
Ann Plagianos as Lola. Cavalleria Rusticana which translates as
"rustic chivalry" is a tempestuous story of love, lust, betrayal and
an honor saving duel to the death. The second half of the program will
be in a more relaxed manner and will feature 'Songs of Italy' where
artistic director Barbara Giancola promises melodic songs from many of
the regions of Italy from Rome to Sicily and Sorrento.
This should be an evening to remember for it is not often that we
have the chance to experience what Placido Domingo describes as, "A
beautiful tenor voice and a source of joy to me'. Daniel has also been
referred to by a leading conductor as a 'possible natural successor to
Carreras, Domingo and Pavarotti, if he decides to focus on an operatic
career." The indoor performance at Duck Walk North is on Saturday June
28 at 7 p.m. and with this star studded cast, demand for the tickets,
which are $45.00 before the day and $55.00 for priority or at the door
tickets is likely to be very strong.
He was only a couple of blocks away from Ground Zero when the tragedy
occurred and he told me that his life long deep faith was only
strengthened by the tragedy of 9/11. Among his key objectives now is
to use his God given talent to the fullest, both in advancing his
professional career and in his many charitable works.
One of the turning points in his career came after a very short
audition at the Met while he was still in the NYPD and being told,
"what makes you think that a policeman can sing?"
Mayor Giuliani heard of this fiasco and asked Placido Domingo to
listen to Daniel. Maestro Domingo was so impressed that he invited
Daniel to study under him in Washington, which he did for a year and a
half. Daniel officially left the NYPD in 2004, to continue to pursue
his lifelong dream. Among his many credits, he performed at the Winter
Olympics, the PBS Memorial Day concert, The Tournament of Roses, the
President's "Celebration of Freedom" concert and made guest
appearances on numerous TV shows including Letterman, Larry King,
Regis and Kelly and Oprah. Daniel Rodriguez has now made three albums,
the latest, "In The Presence" features inspirational music. Among the
tracks are two duets where he teams with Lea Salonga, the star of Miss
Saigon, in the "Pie Jesu" from the Andrew Lloyd Webber 'Requiem' and
also in "Panis Angelicus."
He very recently became engaged to Marla Kavanaugh, a New Zealand
born opera singer, with whom he has recently appeared in concert tours
in New Zealand and Europe
The Opera of the Hamptons' season will continue on August 2 at the
Southampton Cultural Center with a 'Classical Concert' followed the
following week on August 9 with a full staged production of the ever
exciting 'Carmen' before closing back at Duck Walk North on August 16
with the traditional 'From Opera to Broadway' where patrons are
encouraged to bring their picnics early, enjoy some Duck Walk wine and
then enjoy a wonderful summer evening of well loved melodies. Tickets
for all of the productions can be obtained from 631 728 8804.
http://www.danshamptons.com/content/danspapers/issue14_2008/23.html
http://www.danshamptons.com/about.html
