Blues music question?!

Blues music question?

I have a young friend who is learning guitar and he wants to listen to and learn blues tunes (modern and classic). What artists should I recommend? What songs?

First and foremost very few white people know how to play blues. Maybe Stevie Ray Vaughn or Johnny Winter thats about it, just because a white artist kind of sounds "bluesy" doesn't mean they are a blues artist. But if your friend wants to learn from the roots and from the best then he needs to listen to: Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Blind Blake, Big Bill Broonzy, Charles Brown, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Big Walter Horton, Elmore James, Etta James, Albert King, B.B. King, Freddie King, Jimmy Reed, Big Joe Turner, Junior Wells, Otis Rush, T-Bone Walker, Son House, just to name a few.