Rodriguez to sing national anthem at Allstate 400
Rodriguez is a former member of the New York City Police Department who captivated the United States with his stirring a cappella versions of "The Star Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America" in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on America on Sept. 11, 2001.
A Brooklyn, N.Y., native, Rodriguez will sing "The Star Spangled Banner" for the second time at an IMS event. He performed before the 87th Indianapolis 500 in May 2003.
The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is one of many major events at which tenor Rodriguez has performed. In addition to the Indianapolis 500, Rodriguez sang at the famed Hollywood Bowl, the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, the White House for President Bush, the PBS Memorial Day concert in Washington D.C., Disneyland's 47th birthday and the 2004 Republican National Convention.
Blix Street Records artist Rodriguez has recorded four albums since 2002. His debut album, "The Spirit of America," climbed to No. 1 on Billboard's Classical Crossover chart after its release in February 2002.
Rodriguez also has performed on several other albums, including "Yuletide Celebration" with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Patriotism is a recurring theme in Rodriguez's music and his philanthropy. In 2005, he began "Songs for the Soldiers," a project that provides CD's in United Service Organizations care packages for deployed troops. The USO presented Rodriguez with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for his work with the "Songs for Soldiers" program.