Duffy: No mercy for chart rivals

Jan 9 2009 by Paul Mannion, Chester Chronicle

CHART topping singer and former Chester student Duffy is celebrating another milestone in her music career after her debut album was named best selling album of 2008.

According to the Official Charts Company – which compiles the UK’s singles, albums and compilations charts – Rockferry was comfortably the biggest-selling album of 2008 with 1.685 million copies.

The 60s styled siren – real name Aimee Ann Duffy, 24, – studied for a degree in commercial music production and then later performing arts between 2003 and 2007 at the Parkgate Road campus.

She also worked as a waitress at Northgate Street brasserie Chez Jules from November 2004 to April 2005 and in the evenings perfected her performances in Rufus Court at Alexander’s open mic nights.

Her single Mercy, which rocketed her straight to the top of the charts, was the third best selling single of the year with more than 536,000 copies.