The 'Singing Policeman' Put On A Great Show

Daniel Rodriguez, also known as the “Singing Policeman” kept his audience wanting more at The Groves last Friday night. His dramatic tenor voice entertained an audience of 170 people from the Land O’ Lakes area for the two-hour program Feb. 4.

Performing with Rodriguez was his wife, Marla Kavanaugh, who sang soprano. New York jazz pianist Jesse Lynch accompanied them both throughout the evening. 

Rodriguez opened the evening with a beautiful rendition of "The Impossible Dream." The crowd sensed after the first few bars, that the evening was going to be an inspiring night. 

Rodriguez and Lynch traveled across the United States to more than 107 cities, and covered some 56,000 miles to promote his first album "Spirit of America."

Then Rodriguez introduced Marla Kavanaugh, who was born and raised in New Zealand. As she entered the stage, he also introduced his daughter Alexandria, who was nestled on her mother’s hip. The two joked that they were without a babysitter and they would be passing off their daughter in between performances. 

Kavanaugh then sang "If I Loved You" from the musical "Carousel."  As they exchanged their daughter once again, it was Rodriguez’s turn to take the stage. He admitted that he has not always sung tenor, but sang baritone when he was 17 at his debut at Carnegie Hall in New York.  To demonstrate his versatility, he sang "If Ever I’d Leave You" as a baritone. 

As the night moved on, Rodriguez recognized the veterans in the audience and compared the roles and oaths that both veterans and police make to citizens. 

“We all raised our right hands and took an oath, not knowing whether we would come home again,” Rodriguez said.  Then he dedicated the song "Exodus" to all the veterans.

After the break, Jesse Lynch provided the audience with a jazz piece "Stella By Starlight." Then it was time for some favorite pieces from "Phantom of the Opera." Kavanaugh performed "Think of Me," and a man from the audience said “She gave me goose bumps.” 

Rodriguez said, “She gives me goose bumps everyday.”

Rodriguez continued with Phantom’s – "Music of The Night." 

Near the end of the show, the two performed several duets. But it was daughter Alexandria who nearly stole the show, as she stared at each of her parents while they took turns holding her during the duet "The Prayer."

The show concluded with the song that best illustrates Rodriguez’s dramatic voice "God Bless America." Rodriguez became an overnight star after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks when he sang the same song at Yankee Stadium just days after the attacks. Rodriguez admits it was one of the most emotional performances of his career.