My name is José Manuel Montoya. I was born in Madrid and I grew up listening flamenco music since my father and my grandfather were great fans of this art. I was taught by my father so that I learned to play my first notes on the guitar thanks to him. Later on, I learned to play seriously and I was taught by the maestro Juan Alba ( a friend of our family).
I learned musical language in order to learn to read, write and understand the music and that’s why I became interested by classic music.
I was twelve when I played the first time in public and I started to accompany flamenco singing at flamenco groups when I was sixteen years old.
I continued learning flamenco guitar with the maestro Julio Vallejo.
I am playing flamenco guitar professionally since I am 18 years old, as well in Spain as outside of our boundaries.
I participate in the TV music show “Gente Joven” where I get classified and win the third prize in the final.
I am part of the group “Los Tarantos” and further on, together with friends, we compose songs for the record label RTVE music and our name is “Media Luna”.
I accompany the guitar player Victor Monje “Serranito”.
I work with the producer José Luis Moreno in the theatre Calderón in Madrid, accompanying the ballet of the company and I also accompany Isabel Pantoja.
In the year 2000 I thought about teaching flamenco guitar and I started to do it thanks to my great friend Oscar Herrero.
I begin to teach flamenco guitar at the Foundation Flamenco Conservatory Casa Patas and in Local schools of the city council of Madrid where I originally keep on teaching.
I also composed part of the music of the play “Las sobras del festín” by the company “Malucos”.
