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As it did for all Americans, history intervened for
Daniel Rodriguez on September 11, 2001. Like his colleagues, the
seven-year veteran of the New York Police Department stepped up in the
aftermath of the terrorist attacks on America, going above and beyond the
call of duty to help restore a sense of stability and community.
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Inspired by the voice of the legendary tenor, Mario
Lanza, the Brooklyn native earlier had captured the imagination of the
public when former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani introduced him
at a New York Yankees game, where he captivated the crowd with his
rendition of the National Anthem. The wave of acclaim that greeted his
appearances after 9/11 only confirmed that first impression. His first
single, God Bless America, included an introduction by Mayor Giuliani. The
single was released on December 11, 2001, with proceeds from its sales
going to the Twin Towers Fund.
Rodriguez has been a serious student of singing since
he was ten, but The Spirit of America showcases his unique ability to
touch his listeners. Produced by the renowned composer/producer Tom Scott,
the album features Rodriguez singing the patriotic anthems "God Bless
America" and "America the Beautiful," traditional favorites "Danny Boy"
and "Shenandoah," and such songs of faith as "Ave Maria," and "The Lord’s
Prayer," as well as the Broadway standards "Bring Him Home" from Les
Miserables and "You’ll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel. Scott says. "He’s
a good-hearted and funny guy, and a major talent. He has an amazing gift
to give to the world. Daniel brings such a powerful voice to all the songs
on the album. He has a very successful career ahead of him."
Rodriguez discovered singing when he was a student at Dewey Junior High
School in Brooklyn. Like Placido Domingo, he was trained initially as a
baritone, but his hero was Mario Lanza. "When I saw the movie The Great
Caruso starring Lanza, I was immediately taken by his voice,"
Rodriguez remembers. "To me, he epitomized the tenor. I wanted to be like
him. I listened to the nuances of his voice and emulated his vocal
technique and eventually incorporated some of that into my own style of
singing."
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