Butch Hancock has been called one of the finest songwriters of our time, "a raspy-voiced West Texas mystic." His lyrical style of storytelling has been compared to that of Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie.

Hancock is also one-third of the legendary Texas band, The Flatlanders. He founded a record company in 1978, Rainlight Records, and released his first solo album, "West Texas Waltzes And Dust-Blown Tractor Tunes," which launched a successful 40-year career.

Hancock and his son Rory Hancock perform at 8 p.m. June 26, Godfrey Daniels, 7 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem.

In a phone interview while on tour and traveling through the Smokey Mountains, Hancock says he's thrilled to perform with his 17-year old son, who started playing guitar four years ago.

"It's awesome," says Hancock. "Rory started out with a yo-yo, but it didn't have enough strings."

Hancock hails from Lubbock, Tex. He lived in Austin for more than 20 years, moved to the Big Bend area, then finally settled in Wimberley six years ago.

As for schooling, "I broke with the general system of education."

The Flatlanders was founded in 1972, with core members Butch Hancock, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Joe Ely contributing vocals, guitar and songwriting. With several other key members playing musical saw, mandolin, fiddle and string bass, the band's first performance was at the Kerrville Folk Festival. They were one of the winners in the 1972 New Folk Singer-Songwriter Competition.

The band disbanded in 1973 but Gilmore, Ely and Hancock found success as solo performers, and they reunite occasionally to perform. In 1998, they contributed to the soundtrack of the film "The Horse Whisperer." They later released four albums, including the 2009 "Hills and Valleys." To promote the album, they performed on the "Late Show with David Letterman" and on Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion."

"We're the best of friends," says Hancock of his Flatlanders-mates.

In 2012, The Flatlanders released "The Odessa Tapes," an album of recordings from their 1972 recording sessions. Hancock plans a new album release this fall. "I've been letting it marinate for a little while." His stepdaughter, Katie, will sing harmony on the compilation album, "Seven Cities Of Gold."

Hancock and Rory will perform at the annual New Year's Eve show at Padre's Marfa in Marfa, Tex. "The tradition actually stemmed from a wedding party," says Hancock.

When asked who his inspirations are, Hancock says, "There's a positive side and a negative side to that. Sometimes people inspire you not to be like them."

Hancock admits he prefers older country music to the newer recordings. Hancock also likes bluegrass, and he names Guthrie and Dylan as his early influences ... "plus a lot of my friends are songwriters and musicians. I'm inspired by them."

Hancock's tour takes him from Houston to Philadelphia to New England. This is his second performance at Godfrey Daniels.

As for other projects, Hancock plans to make his photography and drawings available to the public. His artwork, which he says is "Dali-esque," is often inspired by his studies while attending architecture school in the late 1960s.

"Just hang on, it will all be there."