2009-2010 Season
Daniel Rodriguez
Monday March 8, 2010
America's Beloved Tenor, "The Singing Policeman" with Piano
Daniel Rodriguez, “America’s Beloved Tenor’s” third
CD, ”In the Presence,” Blix Street Records, showcases his rich, warm
tenor voice on traditional spiritual and church songs. Selections
include “American Hymn,” “How Great Thou Art,” and two duets with Tony
award winner, Lea Salonga; “Panis Angelicus” and “Pie Jesu.”
Daniel’s first album, “Spirit of America,” Manhattan Records, went #1 on
Billboard’s Classical Crossover chart and his second CD, “From My
Heart,” is a collection of richly contrasting love songs, inspired by
the legendary American tenor Mario Lanza.
Faith has guided Daniel, whose rise has been a meteoric one for a young
man who as a New York police officer became one of the department’s
official singers. History intervened for the now retired (June 2004)
NYPD officer on September 11, 2001. His stirring acapella performance of
“God Bless America” and the National Anthem seemed to be something far
greater than graceful patriotic gestures. Ringing, heartfelt and
beautiful, these songs became transcendent statements of solidarity,
determination and hope that galvanized his fellow New Yorkers and
Americans.
He has performed around the world including the 2002 Winter Olympics
ands other sporting events. He starred in the PBS Memorial Day concert
in Washington D.C. His stirring rendition of “God Bless America” has
moved audiences at diverse venues as Disneyland and the “Celebration of
Freedom” Inauguration concert January 2005. He has sung for President
Bush on numerous occasions during both terms and USO events.
The USO, Metropolitan Washington, presented Daniel with the Lifetime
Achievement Award. The flag for his presentation was flown over Camp
Freedom Iraq in Daniel’s honor and then flown to Washington for the
March Awards Dinner.
With three CD’s under his belt, Daniel is looking to the future with the
same inquisitive optimism that has brought him to this point. His goals
include the Broadway stage, opera, and acting. “I don’t want to limit
myself,” he says. “For me, life is an experience, life is a ride; you
can’t say ‘I’m going to take this road, and that’s it.’ Life has twists
and turns, and you have to be able to navigate through them. Always
consult your higher power. And let yourself be led, too. People say
‘What do you want to do?’ and I say, ‘Well, God knows what I’ll be
doing. I just kind of follow signs. There have always been doors that
open for me, and it’s having the courage to walk through them and
experience what’s behind them that has made life interesting and has
gotten me where I am. It’s about enjoying the ride.”