WELSH SINGER-SONGWRITER AND INTERNATIONAL SENSATION DUFFY MAKES HER FIRST U.S. TELEVISION APPEARANCE ON NBC'S 'THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO' ON MONDAY, APRIL 28 -- TWO WEEKS BEFORE HER HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ALBUM DEBUTS DOMESTICALLY
Welsh singer-songwriter Duffy has the top spots on the U.K. album and singles charts simultaneously -- an accomplishment that only nine solo female artists have ever done, among them; Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Barbara Streisand -- and on Monday, April 28, she will make her U.S. television debut on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (Monday-Friday, 11:35 p.m. - 12:37 a.m. ET).
Duffy's highly touted and anticipated debut album "Rockferry" hits U.S. shelves on May 13.
After her U.S. stage debut, the Los Angeles Times raved, "Young Welsh soul belter Duffy made her first U.S. appearances, charming many with her bedroom-mirror moves and bold, brassy voice," RollingStone.com said, "By the time Duffy ended her six-tune set with a pounding version of "Mercy," at least one major label (Mercury Records) has a reason to be cheerful in what looks to be an otherwise very challenging 2008."
"Rockferry," which shipped near-platinum in the UK this month, entered the national chart at #1. The album's first week UK sales were the highest first week album sales of the year there - six times as much as the #2 album, nearly as much as the rest of the top 10 albums in total.
Duffy's "Mercy," which she will perform on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" spent five weeks at #1 on the UK and Ireland national charts. In addition to the UK and Ireland, and the Eurochart Hot 100, "Mercy" also went to #1 in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Turkey; #2 in Denmark, Greece, Spain, Norway, Bulgaria, and Germany; and Top 10 on the United World Chart.
Guileless and beguiling, and blessed with effortless Motown and Stax chops, 23-year old Duffy has blown away London's hype-driven music machinery like a gust of fresh air. She was born and raised in the tiny Welsh village of Nefyn (population 2,550 at last census), a place so remote that the nearest record store was a bus ride away and only stocked the Top 40. Isolated, her muse was immaculately conceived and soulfully nurtured. Duffy worked as a waitress, sang in a bar, and cobbled out demo recordings that found their way to Jeanette Lee, noted founder and partner of the Rough Trade record label and management company. She encouraged Duffy to write her own material, put her in the studio with like-minded co-writers/producers. She signed to A&M/Polydor UK and Mercury Records in the U.S.
"Rockferry" was recorded in England with ex-Suede guitarist turned record producer Bernard Butler, Jimmy Hogarth and Steve Booker.
"It's hard for cynical music industry types to get their heads around just how far removed she was from our world," said Butler, "geographically and in every other way. What you've got as a result is someone who acts and sings utterly unselfconsciously and from the heart, a most rare and magical thing."
In the post-Amy Winehouse era, Duffy is said to be the next big import from across the pond. See her first on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
For further information on Duffy please visit www.iamduffy.com
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