Daniel Rodriguez

Daniel Rodriquez became a household name after the September 11 attack as New York City's Singing Cop. His rendition of God Bless America during the aftermath of 9/11 helped heal the wounds of a hurting nation. Before long, then-New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani helped set up an audition at the Metropolitan Opera that Daniel now calls "a tragedy." "What makes you think a policeman can sing at the Met?" was the first comment that greeted him as he arrived. He was only allowed to sing two notes before being dismissed. Through the Mayor, Placido Domingo heard the story, and he told Giuliani he would give the singer a listen. Domingo was in the planning stages for his Young Artists program at the time. "The same day the Yankees won the Pennant in 2001," says Daniel, "I went to the Met and sang for Maestro Domingo, and he invited me to study with him in Washington. I left the Met on a cloud, sang the National Anthem at Yankee Stadium, saw the Mayor, told him what had happened, and he said, 'You have to do that, it's your calling,' and I said, 'Well, you'll have to give me the time off.'" Daniel studied with Maestro Domingo for a year and half. Since then, he has performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics, the PBS Memorial Day concert in Washington, D.C., the Tournament of Roses Parade, the 2004 Republican National Convention and President Bush's "Celebration of Freedom" Inauguration concert, and on television's "The Late Show with David Letterman," "Larry King Live," "Live with Regis and Kelly" and "Oprah," among many other high profile events. He officially retired from the NYPD in June of 2004. His love of God and country, combined with his tremendously gifted tenor voice has made him America's Beloved Tenor. A part of the Community Concert Series.