Ramón Montoya

Ramón Montoya (November 2, 1879, Madrid, Spain – July 20, 1949, Madrid, Spain), Flamenco guitarist and composer.

Born into a family of Gitano (Romani) cattle traders, Ramón Montoya used earnings from working in the trade to purchase his first guitar. He began playing in the cafés de cante before he was twenty years of age.

He formed a partnership with the great flamenco cantaor (singer) Antonio Chacón that started in 1912 and lasted more than a decade. Both participated in the Concurso de Cante Jondo of 1922 held in Granada. These two were largely responsible for establishing the form of the various traditional flamenco cantes that are recognized today.

In traditional flamenco, the guitar was relegated to a supporting role. Cante (singing) and baile (dance) were the main performers whom the guitarist supported. Montoya was one of the first to challenge this role. His strong playing often overpowered the singer whom he accompanied. He eventually took the next logical step and began to play as a solo or lead performer in a concert setting. His performances are widely credited by flamenco historians as establishing the flamenco guitar in this role.

He was the single most influential flamenco guitarist of the 20th century. His innovations made possible the solo careers of such later greats as Sabicas, Manitas de Plata and Manuel Molina.

He is the uncle of flamenco guitarist Carlos Montoya. His granddaughter, Rosa Montoya, is most known for introducing flamenco dance to most of California with her studio based in San Francisco.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 3, 1879 (Madrid), Died July 20, 1949

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1909 - 1932

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 36 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gramophone 0J781 10-in. 1932 Sol y sombra Niño de Marchena ; Fernando. Vilches Male vocal solo, with saxophone, guitar, and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 0J805 10-in. 10/31/1932 La rosa Niño de Marchena ; Ramón Montoya Male vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 860y 10-in. 12/19/1909 Tientos Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 872y 10-in. 12/20/1909 Soleá Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 874y 10-in. 12/20/1909 Bulería Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 875y 10-in. 12/20/1909 Sevillanas boleras no. 1 Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar and castanets instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone BJ1512 10-in. 10/17/1928 Que le mandan a decir Niña de Linares Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone BJ1515 10-in. 10/17/1928 Por una estrecha y oscura galería Ramón Montoya ; Niña de Linares Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone BJ1526 10-in. 10/17/1928 Amores no ha de buscar El Chato de Vicálvaro ; Ramón Montoya Male vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone BJ1527 10-in. 10/17/1928 Cuando más te voy mirando El Chato de Vicálvaro ; Ramón Montoya Male vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1541ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Soleares no. 1 Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1542ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Soleares no. 2 Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1543ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Tango núm. 1 Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1544ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Tango no. 2 Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1545ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Tarantas Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1546ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Malagueñas no. 1 Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1547ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Malagueñas no. 2 Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1548ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Garrotín Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1549ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Seguidillas no. 1 Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1553ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Soleares no. 3 Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1554ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Seguidillas no. 2 Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1555ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Seguidillas no. 3 Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1556ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Peteneras no. 1 Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1558ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Farruca Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Gramophone 1559ah 10-in. 11/16/1911 Tango no. 3 Niña de los Peines Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 1-25 of 36 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Montoya, Ramón," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102843.

Montoya, Ramón. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102843.

"Montoya, Ramón." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102843

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