Duffy Biography

Birth name : Aimée Ann Duffy

Born : 23 June 1984 (age 27)

Origin : Nefyn, Gwynedd, Wales

Occupations : Singer-songwriter, actress

Aimée Ann Duffy (born 23 June 1984), known as Duffy, is a Welsh singer-songwriter. Her 2008 debut album Rockferry entered the UK Album Chart at number one. It was the best-selling album in the United Kingdom in 2008 with 1.68 million copies sold. The album was certified several times Platinum and sold over 6 million copies worldwide, spawning the hits "Mercy" and "Warwick Avenue". With "Mercy", Duffy became the first Welsh woman to achieve number-one on the UK Singles Chart since Bonnie Tyler topped the charts with "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1983.

Duffy was elected president of the Students Union at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, before transferring to study in Chester where she built up a following in a local jazz and blues club. She recorded a CD of three songs in Welsh in 2004 and also appeared on two tracks on the album See You in the Morning by Mint Royale while working as a waitress and in a fishery. Owen Powell of Catatonia and Richard Parfitt of Newport, Gwent band 60ft Dolls, introduced Duffy in August 2004 to former Public Image Ltd. member turned music manager and part-owner of Rough Trade Records Jeanette Lee. Lee moved Duffy to Crouch End in London, and orchestrated a meeting between Duffy and Suede's ex-guitar player Bernard Butler, who then co-wrote with her and helped create a sound that has been compared to Dusty Springfield. 

Contracted to A&M Records during 2007, on 23 November 2007, Duffy performed on the BBC2 television show Later with Jools Holland, which resulted in a second appearance on the related New Years Eve show Hootenanny, on which, among other things, she performed with soul legend Eddie Floyd. In January 2008 she was voted second in the annual BBC 6 Music poll of industry experts Sound of 2008, for acts to emerge in the coming year. In Wales she seemed set to become the "pop" equivalent of mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins. A number of commentators have remarked on her unaffected personality and natural charm.. 

Butler and his musical partner David McAlmont, and a number of other musicians have formed the backbone of Duffy's band for her debut album entitled Rockferry, which is due for release on Polydor on 3 March 2008.