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Global Townhall interview

by Gabrielle Reilly

"His voice resonates somewhere deep in your soul... perhaps he has learnt to tap into the love and kindness that all religions speak off with not only his voice, but by his kind and loving actions."

                 

Daniel Rodriquez rescued Americans on the ground as a police officer on 9/11 and then comforted and lifted American spirits by singing the national anthem at the first Yankee game after 9/11.  Known as "the singing police officer" Daniel quickly shot onto the world stage.  His voice resonates somewhere deep in your soul... perhaps he has learnt to tap into the love and kindness that all religions speak off with not only his voice, but by his kind and loving actions.

There is much we can all learn from Daniel about what it means to really live.  So saturate your soul with his written words, they will resonate in your body too and perhaps take you on a personal journey to fulfill your own destiny.  Daniel is back in America doing concerts to raise money for the victims of earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan so be sure to check his schedule.

Gabrielle Reilly:  Your voice is magnificent. When you sing it does not just sound like music, it sounds like you tapped into spirit.  Do you have any way of describing the way you tap into that spirit?  

Daniel Rodriguez:  I have always felt the presence of God in my life and I try and tap into that spiritual place when I sing. I believe that I have a responsibility to transport my audience to where I am and so I work on being present to the song and the message or story it is communicating.

Gabrielle Reilly:  What words of advice can you offer our readers to help inspire them?  

Daniel Rodriguez:  Keep your heart in the right place and the rest will follow.

Gabrielle Reilly:  What has been your favorite career highlights?  

Daniel Rodriguez:  There are so many it is hard to pinpoint just a few, but here are two that stick out the most in my memory. The first Yankee game after 9/11 was an electric night full of excitement as well as uncertainty for what the future held for the city but when my name was called and the capacity crowd swelled with cheers I felt part of something much bigger than myself and yet everyone was focused on me, in those 2 & 1/2 minutes to pay tribute to the city and the nation with my most heartfelt rendition of our nation's Anthem. It was the stuff that dreams are made of. The 2002 Winter Olympics where the same feelings rose in me but now I'm on the world stage.

Gabrielle Reilly:  Where did you meet your wife, a New Zealand native, opera singer, Marla Kavanaugh? 

Daniel Rodriguez:  I met my wife in New York just before we were to embark on a musical tour of New Zealand together.  I was signed to E.M.I. Capitol records and she was being sought as a possible artist for the label so the label decided to put us together for a tour in N.Z.  We decided to meet and get acquainted in N.Y. first.  I met her in midtown and we went to a little French bistro named Meli Melo and within 15 minutes we knew the story of each other lives.

Gabrielle Reilly:  Tell us about your American tour to help raise funds for New Zealand's earthquake victims? 

Daniel Rodriguez:  My wife and I have always believed that we are blessed, and with that blessing come the responsibility to give back.  So in January of this year we organized a fundraiser for the victims of the coal mining accident in the small town of Greymouth in the south Island of N.Z.  Now once again we find ourselves faced with a greater tragedy and devastation both in New Zealand and Japan, so we are organizing a series of fundraisers around the country to try and help.

Gabrielle Reilly:  As a policeman in NY on 9/11 what impacted you most about that day?  

Daniel Rodriguez:  I had several awakenings on that day. I always considered myself a singer first, and all other things secondary, but when the towers came down and I was faced with the decision to honor my oath or turn and run, I understood that I was both, and in that moment I was a New York City Police Officer. If this was to be my final moments than I wished to be found at my post doing the job that I was entrusted to do and side by side with my brother officers. Later, as we all worked to find the fallen among the rubble, I felt that I had more to give to this tragedy. When the call came from then Mayor Giuliani to sing at "Prayer For America" I realized that I had a "calling" and that all my life was in preparation for the moment. God's gift would do the most good, for the most people, in a time when it was needed most.

Gabrielle Reilly:  What are your dreams for the future? 

Daniel Rodriguez:  I hope that I continue doing what I am doing today for the rest of my life. I pray I have a long enough life so I can see my children grow and be successful, and I look forward to spending that life with my beautiful wife by my side. I hope that I can make a small difference in the world for the better. If I could have one thing become truth in all men's minds it would be that we are all one human family and we should love and respect each other.

http://www.theglobaltownhall.com/daniel_rodriguez