Rock News: Music's high and low notes

'FOR THE TROOPS: AN MTV/USO SPECIAL'

MTV has teamed up with the USO and Armed Forces Entertainment to produce a concert event for U.S. service personnel. The concert will be a part of a 90-minute holiday television special titled "For the Troops: An MTV/ USO Special," which will be hosted by Carson Daly and aired on MTV in the United States on New Year's Day (at 2 p.m. ET/PT).

Featured artists will include Jennifer Lopez, Kid Rock and Ja Rule.

The actual production will take place at an unidentified military base overseas. MTV's cameras will follow J. Lo, Kid Rock and Ja Rule from the moment they arrive on base and begin interacting with the troops as they go through their daily routines. The special will culminate in a rousing musical performance.

(Web site: uso.org)

ALICIA KEYS

Alicia Keys is taking to the road. The singer Rolling Stone magazine has named "Artist of the Year" kicks off her first major North American solo tour Jan. 22 in Hartford, Conn.

"This year has been incredible and I am so looking forward to getting out and playing live around the country, it gives me an opportunity to be intimate with the people that have supported my music and I can't wait," said Keys.

Keys's debut album, "Songs In A Minor" has just been certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA. She has garnered five American Music Award and eight Billboard Award nominations. The Billboard Awards will be handed out Tuesday night.

Tour dates:

DATE CITY VENUE

Jan 22 Hartford, Conn. Oakdale

Jan 23 Washington, D.C. DAR Constitution Hall

Jan 25 Philadelphia Tower Theater

Jan 26 Boston Orpheum

Jan 28 Toronto, Canada Massey Hall

Jan 29 Detroit State Theater

Jan 30 Cleveland, Ohio State Theater

Feb 1-2 New York City Radio City Music Hall

Feb 4 Columbus, Ohio Palace Theater

Feb 5 Milwaukee, Wis. Riverside

Feb 7-8 Chicago Arie Crown

Feb 11 Richmond, Va. Landmark

Feb 12 Charlotte, N.C. Ovens Auditorium

Feb 15 Orlando, Fla. Hard Rock

Feb 16 Atlanta Tabernacle

Feb 18 New Orleans, La. Saenger

Feb. 19 Houston Aerial Theater

Feb 20 Dallas Bronco Bowl

Feb 22 Denver Fillmore

Feb 28-Mar 1 Los Angeles Wiltern

Mar 3-4 Oakland, Calif. Paramount

Mar 6 Phoenix, Ariz. Gammage

Mar 8 Las Vegas Aladdin

Mar 10 San Diego, Calif. Copley Symphony Hall

MARIAH CAREY

Mariah Carey's "Greatest Hits" (on Columbia Records) hits stores Tuesday. The double album brings together recordings from all of Mariah's Columbia Records releases -- from her 1990 self-titled debut through 1999's "Rainbow." In addition, the album includes Carey's duet with Luther Vandross of "Endless Love," available for the first time on a Mariah album, and the previously unreleased So So Def Remix of "All I Want For Christmas Is You," featuring Jermaine Dupri and Lil Bow Wow.

(Web site: columbiarecords.com)

MACK 10

Rapper Mack 10's Cash Money Records debut album "Bang Or Ball" is being released Tuesday. The 18-track album includes collaborations with labelmate BG, and Mack 10's longtime friends W.C. and hip-hop superstar Ice Cube.

Mack 10 had four gold-certified solo albums and a multi-platinum project as a member of Westside Connection. He signed with Cash Money Records last spring.

(Web site: universalrecords.com)

GEORGE HARRISON

The ashes of the late George Harrison are headed for India, where plans called for commingling them with the waters of three rivers regarded as holy by Hindus.

"We are deeply touched by the outpouring of love and compassion from people around the world," said Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son Dhani in a statement. "The profound beauty of the moment of George's passing -- of his awakening from this dream -- was no surprise to those of us who knew how he longed to be with God. In that pursuit, he was relentless."

Harrison's body was cremated nine hours after he died of cancer in Los Angeles last Thursday -- well before the news of his death was made public.

Leaders of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness said Harrison's ashes will be immersed Tuesday off Allahabad, where the Ganges, Saraswati and Yamuna Rivers converge. Harrison's widow and son were accompanying the ashes to the site.

(Thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)

MORE ON GEORGE HARRISON

Hundreds of admirers of former Beatle George Harrison converged on his native Liverpool, England, Monday to pay tribute and celebrate his music.

A crowd of more than 1,000 people, including members of Harrison's family and friends, gathered outside St. George's Hall in Lime Street in bracing cold weather -- some carrying photos of the Beatle star.

A minute's silence observed by the gathering came exactly three hours before the one-minute meditation at 1:30 p.m. (PST) requested by Harrison's family and conducted by fans worldwide, but a candle-lit memorial did not go as planned because of high winds.

Liverpool Lord Mayor Gerry Scott led the crowd in singing Harrison's hit song "My Sweet Lord," followed by clapping and cheering.

Children from Dovedale Junior School, Harrison's old school, planted a tree in the city's peace garden.

Harrison, 58, died in Los Angeles last Thursday after a long battle against cancer and was cremated soon afterwards.

ARTISTS AGAINST AIDS WORLDWIDE

U2 frontman Bono, Britney Spears, Destiny's Child, Lil' Kim, Moby, No Doubt's Gwen Stefani, the members of 'N Sync and R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe have joined with Scient, an experience management consultancy, in launching the official Artists Against AIDS Worldwide Web site (aaaw.org). The idea is to generate an awareness of the global AIDS epidemic and encourage donations to the organization.

The site guides visitors toward making a donation or purchasing the organization's Marvin Gaye tribute CD "What's Going On." Proceeds of the CD, featuring an all-star line-up of artists, go to a variety of AIDS charities and to the September 11th Fund.