Daughter of a Jerez-born mother and Seville-born father, her parents emigrated to French Algeria, where Antonia was born.
Some time later, with her brothers-in-law and a niece, Carmelilla, she formed La Familia Montoya in the 1970s,[2][3] which successfully presented the most intimate and spontaneous facets of flamenco.
Her art was reflected in Triana (1976), En familia (1978), Macama jonda (1983), El ángel (1993) and Un gitano de ley (1997).
She participated in two audiovisual summits of flamenco: El ángel and Rito y geografía del cante.
La Negra has been one of the main figures of cante jondo, excelling her talent in palos such as flamenco tango and bulería.