Carlos Montoya facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carlos Montoya
Montoya circa 1950s
Background information
Birth name	Carlos García Montoya
Born	13 December 1903 (1903-12-13) Madrid, Spain
Died	3 March 1993 (1993-03-04) (aged 89) Wainscott, New York, U.S.
Genres	Flamenco music
Occupation(s)	Composer Guitarist
Instruments	Guitar

Carlos García Montoya (born December 13, 1903, died March 3, 1993) was a famous flamenco guitarist from Madrid, Spain. He helped create the modern style of flamenco music that many people enjoy today.

Early Life and Learning

Carlos Montoya was the nephew of another famous flamenco guitarist, Ramón Montoya. He started learning guitar from his mother, "la Tula." Later, a barber named Pepe el Barbero taught him more. After about a year, Carlos had learned all Pepe could teach.

He then sought out other flamenco guitarists to learn from them. By age fourteen, Carlos was already playing in "cafes cantantes" in Madrid. These were places where flamenco singing and dancing were very popular. He played for artists like Antonio de Bilbao and La Macarrona.

A Career on the World Stage

In the 1920s and 1930s, Carlos Montoya performed widely. He played in Europe, North America, and Asia with artists like La Teresina. When World War II began in 1939, he was touring in the United States. He decided to stay there and later became a U.S. citizen.

This period in the U.S. became his most successful time as a musician. He brought his exciting flamenco style to many concert halls and universities. He also performed with orchestras. During these years, he made many recordings for labels like RCA Victor and Folkways. He played traditional flamenco songs such as Farruca.

By the end of the war in 1945, Carlos Montoya's music had grown. He started to include elements of blues, jazz, and folk music in his performances. He toured the world again and was the first flamenco guitarist to tour with symphonies and orchestras. He became a leading figure in flamenco music in the U.S. He also appeared on television and recorded over forty albums. One notable album was Suite Flamenco, a concerto he played with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra in 1966. His performances helped make flamenco guitar music popular all over the world.

Developing a Unique Flamenco Style

Montoya is known for changing flamenco guitar music. Before him, it was mostly used to accompany dancing. He helped make it a separate style of music on its own. He mixed flamenco with other types of music to create his own special sound. This made him an international star.

Some traditional flamenco students did not fully appreciate his style. They felt it was less traditional than other flamenco music. This might have been because he sometimes changed the traditional compás (rhythm) of flamenco. Many of his songs did not always keep a perfect tempo. They would speed up and slow down in a unique way. However, he was admired for the speed of his picados (a guitar technique). His fast and impressive playing helped him gain popularity on the international stage.

Death and Lasting Legacy

Carlos Montoya passed away on March 3, 1993, at the age of 89. He died of heart failure in Wainscott, New York, on Long Island. His niece, Rosa Montoya, is also famous. She helped introduce flamenco dance to many people in California through her studio in San Francisco.

Discography

Carlos Montoya performing

Filmography

• Carmen, la de Triana (1938)

See also

In Spanish: Carlos Montoya para niños