| In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors. |
LOS ANGELES (AP) The multi-Grammy winning Mexican rock group Mana will provide music and a little diplomacy on its latest U.S. tour.
The group was named goodwill ambassador Tuesday for the United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organization and will donate $1 from every ticket sold on the tour to the FAO and the band's wildlife reforestation group Selva Negra.
``Mana will help FAO's message to reach younger, active audiences in Latin America, the United States and Europe,'' said FAO director Jacques Diouf in a recorded statement at the group's press conference in Los Angeles.
Mana's lead singer Fher Olvera called the appointment ``a great honor,'' and lauded the organization not only for feeding people around the world but for helping communities create their own food supplies.
The pop group, often referred as Latin America's U2, also urged record companies and stores to lower the price of CDs so that fans ``wouldn't be forced to buy bad quality, pirated copies.''
The group, which begins its 18-city tour in Southern California this week, will launch a ``greatest hits'' album in November.
Mana won a Latin Grammy this year for Best Rock Album by a Duo or Group with Vocal.