Ellis Paul, one of the most respected folk performers of our time, with a 20-year career and tours that have spanned the globe, has impressed fans not only with his music, but also with poetry, songwriting and children's records.

With 19 album releases and an unprecedented 15 Boston Music Awards to his name, Paul will be inducted into the Maine Music Hall of Fame next month.

Paul presents a concert, 8 p.m. June 20, Godfrey Daniels, 7 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem.

In a recent phone interview from his home in Charlottesville, Va., Paul, born in Maine as Paul Plissey, recalls living in Boston for 20 years:

"There was a folk boom in the 1990's, and there is one happening now. Boston was the hotbed for lyric-based musicians."

Paul started performing at Boston bars and coffeehouses in 1989. Famed folksinger Bill Morrissey took notice and was so impressed that he produced Paul's first album "Say Something" (1993). Paul has since recorded with Kristian Bush from Sugarland, Vance Gilbert, Seth Glier, John Gorka and many others.

Paul's biggest music influence, Woody Guthrie, has woven in and out of Paul's life in remarkable and auspicious ways. Paul bears a tattoo of the folk icon, which led to a chance meeting with Guthrie's daughter, Nora, at a Folk Alliance conference.

This led to Paul performing at the Guthrie tribute show at the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 1996, headlining at the first Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Oklahoma in 1998, playing in the "Ribbon of Highway, Endless Skyway" tribute show to Woody Guthrie in 2003, and inclusion on the Woody Guthrie Coalition's DVD, "Woody Sez: A Tribute to Woody Guthrie" (2006). Paul was also chosen to co-write a song using Guthrie's unreleased, archived lyrics.

"I can't avoid him," Paul says of Guthrie. "All of us [folk musicians] are exposed to him. He left big footprints. He's the backbone of what we do. His life story fascinates me, how massively creative he was."

Paul, a former track star at Boston College, and a former social worker, is now the father of two children. Paul moved to Charlottesville to be closer to family.

"I tour coast to coast, but do it on weekends, so that I can spend time with my kids during the week. It's non-stop," he adds. "My albums flow into my touring life."

In 2000, Paul's song, "The World Ain't Slowing Down" was used in the film "Me, Myself & Irene," starring Jim Carrey. In 2001, "Sweet Mistakes" was featured in the film, "Shallow Hal," starring Jack Black.

Last month, Paul gave the commencement speech at the University of Maine.

Paul's other projects include a 2008 album for children, "The Dragonfly Races," followed in 2012 by "The Hero In You," with songs written about those Paul considers to be American heroes. Paul strives to educate children through music. "I want them to learn about inspiring people."

Paul believes that songwriting is learned and doesn't come easily. He considers himself fortunate, "My mentors, like [the late] Bill Morrissey and John Prine, I could talk to them. They kept their door open for me, so I want to do the same."

Paul teaches songwriting classes at festivals and other venues and mentors young musicians.

His last album, "The Day after Everything Changed" (2010, Black Wolf Records) differs from previous works. "This album is a little bit more guitar-focused and rock band," says Paul. "It's more raw-sounding and spontaneous."

Paul's upcoming album, "Chasing Beauty" (2014, Black Wolf Records) includes 14 songs, and is available for purchase at Paul's concerts.

As for his starkly emotional and introspective lyrics, Paul says his songs tend to be about real people. "Songwriters … they can tell a higher truth without stretching reality."