Mayer concert tour raises money for troops

NEW YORK, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A portion of the proceeds from John Mayer's upcoming concert tour will go to benefit U.S. troops, Columbia Records announced.

The Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician is to kick off his first U.S. tour in two years April 9. He will stop in 18 cities through May 6.

The tour is to support Mayer's upcoming fifth album "Born and Raised."

"Mayer became passionate about supporting U.S. war veterans following a visit to the Marine Corps' Camp Lejeune in North Carolina four years ago," his record label said in a news release Monday. "He has since spent time with active military and veterans while touring, and partnered with the Northern California Institute of Research and Education to provide veterans with a healthy reintegration into civilian life which will help heal the battle scars caused by the trauma they experienced."

A block of third-row orchestra seats will be made available for sale for each show through Tickets-For-Charity, with proceeds going to Mayer/NCIRE programs. Mayer fans also can bid on eBay for four front-row tickets for each show, plus a chance to meet him, with proceeds also going to Mayer/NCIRE programs for veterans.