Primarily self-taught, the young Montoya learned by playing for singers and dancers at the cafes cantantes in Madrid, notably for La Teresina and La Argentina (Argentina, La). He later toured with La Argentina as her accompanist. Montoya began to give flamenco guitar recitals in 1948; thereafter he toured frequently throughout the world. He was the first flamenco guitarist to perform as a soloist with major orchestras, and he appeared often on television. Montoya's compositions include a suite for guitar and orchestra that contains improvised flamenco material, Suite flamenca (1966), and many solo guitar pieces.