The thread title seems to refer to people, the initial question refers to songs... confusion may indeed be natural. :-)

Of course, given that recordings are the way many get to songs, then starting with a performer recommendation makes sense as one approach.

If you start with a book, take any song and sing it by itself. See if you like it. Not too hard. Most old songs other than parlor-type songs and obviously banjo/fiddle songs would have started life unaccompanied anyway.

~ Becky in Tucson