Many world music professionals keep mental score of celebrities who give a nod to global music.
Johnny Depp has made known his fondness for Romani band Taraf de Haidouks, appearing with them in a film and subsequently flying them to his house in L.A. for a party. Robert Plant made a trek to the Sahara Desert to join Tinariwen and others at the Festival in the Desert. Bonnie Raitt has showed support for national radio program Afropop Worldwide and featured Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi and Malian musician Habib Koite on an album of her own. Film director Wes Anderson's inclusion of Brazilian singer/actor Seu Jorge singing David Bowie songs Portuguese in The Life Aquatic was a huge boost to Jorge's follow-up solo album Cru.
Now actor Martin Sheen makes his DJ debut this week on National Geographic’s new World Music Website. The actor, well known for his television role as President Bartlett on “The West Wing,” has compiled a mix of music from Cuba, Algeria, Ireland, Peru, Brazil and other parts of the world exclusively for 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.” Sheen previously worked with National Geographic on its Explorer program and Specials, including narrating “Inside the Vatican.”
DubMC.com is the brainchild of Dmitri Vietze and is sponsored by rock paper scissors, inc., world music publicity firm.
