National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

These days most people recognize Martin Sheen as President Bartlett from The West Wing, but the versatile actor has been dazzling audiences for decades, from his work with Actor's Co-op and The Living Theater to his breakout film roles in '70s classics like Badlands and Apocalypse Now, to his occasional stints behind the camera as a director. He returns to the big screen this October in Martin Scorsese's crime drama The Departed.

Sheen has also made a name for himself as a prominent activist offscreen, and is well known for his advocacy and outspoken commitment to social justice both at home and abroad—not the least of which is his support of Options Recovery Services, a nonprofit dedicated to homeless and addiction issues.

As the son of first generation Spanish and Irish immigrants, Sheen's international awareness has deep roots. So it was no surprise when Sheen enthusiastically agreed to share some of his favorite global music with National Geographic.

"It wasn't until I reviewed the extensive selection of artists and songs offered on the site that I truly appreciated the amazing stories that these musicians tell," said Sheen. "Through National Geographic World Music, I discovered incredible artists and their music, all while learning about their various cultures and countries."

Click Here To Launch Martin Sheen's Picks

1. Cuarteto Patria: "Chan Chan"

This is the Cuban son classic made famous by the Buena Vista Social Club—sung here by its writer Eliades Ochoa, who brought his signature tune to the BVSC project, with his original band, Curette Patria.

2. Souad Massi : "Ghir Enta"

Souad Massi is an up-and-coming Algerian singer/songwriter based in France. Her deceptively breezy pop sound incorporates elements of Algerian rai, Spanish flamenco and even Congolese soukous, reflecting the rich musical melting pot of contemporary France.

3. Monica Salmaso: "Trampolim"

Monica Salmaso is one of Brazil's most arresting new voices, a gifted chanteuse with an extraordinary range and depth of feeling who brings fresh life to the well-trod intersection of jazz and bossa nova.

4. Mariza: "O Gente da Minha Terra"

Mariza is one of the best of a recent crop of Portuguese fado divas. She follows in the footsteps of the great Amalia Rodrigues, infusing her music with all the drama, passion and pathos that gives fado music its luxurious melancholy.

5. Susana Baca: "Los Amantes"

Peruvian singer Susana Baca was almost single-handedly responsible for bringing the music of Afro-Peruvians—the descendants of slaves brought to Peru in the 18th and 19th centuries—to the attention of the rest of the world. Her worldly and sophisticated compositions belie the humble folk roots of this once-forgotten music.

6. Susan McKeown: "Sweet Liberty"

Irish singer Susan McKeown was born in Dublin, and is a gifted interpreter of traditional Irish music—but she's also an adventurous musical omnivore, not afraid to incorporate non-traditional instruments, influences and arrangements into her compositions, from rock 'n' to traditional Chinese music.

7. Mary Jane Lamond: "Cailleach Liath Ratharsaight"

Mary Jane Lamond's family hails from Cape Breton Island in Canada—a stronghold of Celtic language and tradition—and she has reclaimed her heritage by emerging as one of the most gifted interpreters of traditional Scots-Gaelic. Her gorgeous voice and smart, contemporary arrangements make this ancient language accessible to all.

8. Kila: "Luna Park"

Kila is one of the best new bands to emerge on the contemporary Celtic music scene—a Dublin-based septet that brings youth and energy and a great deal of humor to the sometimes-staid world of traditional Irish music.

9. Papa Noel and Papi Oviedo: "Bana Congo"

This is a fascinating collaboration between two masters: Congolese rumba singer Papa Noel, and Cuban rumbero Papi Oviedo. Together the duo untangles the roots that connect the Cuban rumba tradition (with its African roots) with its African counterpart (which was inspired by Cuban recordings in the 1950s).

10. Natalie MacMaster: "A Blast"

Natalie MacMaster in another contemporary giant of Cape Breton traditional music. A virtuoso fiddle player, she is also a storehouse of traditional music and lore (thanks in part to her uncle, legendary fiddler Buddy MacMaster). Her adventurous recordings helped launch this traditional Celtic music into the Canadian mainstream.

11. Marta Gomez: "Tu"

Marta Gomez is an accomplished singer/songwriter from Colombia, currently living in New York City. Her music draws deep on the folkloric music of her homeland, and her original compositions are a living link between contemporary pop and the joropos and llaneros of Colombia's high plains.

12. Teada: "Rathlin Island"

Teada—which means simply "strings" in the Irish language—is a traditional Irish quartet that brings new life to old arrangements through the sheer force of their virtuosity and infectious love of the music. Teada is one of the most exciting new bands to emerge on the traditional Irish scene in a long time.

13. Alboka: "Txinparta"

Alboka hails from the Basque country of Northern Spain, and their music is a blend of Basque traditional music, folk-pop, and Celtic sounds from the neighboring Spanish region of Galicia. Named for the unique alboka horn of the Basques, the group's contemporary sensibility makes these ancient sounds accessible to the modern ear.

14. Maurice El Medioni & Roberto Juan Rodriguez: "Oran, Oran"

Cuban-American bandleader Roberto Juan Rodriguez teams up here with legendary Algerian pianist Maurice El Medioni to put a Latin spin on El Medioni's unique "oriental" style—which he developed in the bars and cafes of postwar Oran, playing boogie woogie for Allied soldiers, chansons for the French colonials and rai and Andalusian music for the locals.