10 Feb: Grammy will give Duffy with a “passport” to US.

Article on Walesonline:

Duffy’s Grammy success in Los Angeles

Feb 10 2009 by Sally Williams, Western Mail

WINNING a Grammy should provide Welsh singer Duffy with a “passport” to conquer America.

The 24-year-old won the Best Pop Vocal Album at the 51st Grammy awards in Los Angeles.

Her debut album Rockferry, was the biggest-seller in the UK last year, with 1.685 million sales.

Publicist Max Clifford said the award now opens the door to her joining the “premier league” of singers in the USA.

“I like Duffy, she comes over as being very natural and let’s hope she stays like that,” he said.

“Providing she’s got a good team around her, this is her chance to take centre stage in the biggest stage of the world.

“Not many British girls have done that – Leona Lewis is the only one who springs to my mind over the last 20 years.

“And Duffy will never have a bigger opportunity to do it.”

Cardiff music producer, John Rostron, agrees that now is the ideal time for the singer from Nefyn, Gwynedd, to break into the American market.

“Winning a Grammy is the perfect introduction for her into the American market and I imagine that’s what she will be focusing on right now,” he said.

“They will probably be lining her up for some big gigs, although she could well play to smaller audiences of ex-pats as well.

“The only thing against her is that currently she has only released one album; to get established in America, artists would normally have produced a whole catalogue.

“She will also have to be careful of experiencing an early burn-out because the turn around in this business is very quick.”

Meanwhile, rock legend Robert Plant, who lives near Machynlleth, walked away with five Grammys, including the prized Album of the Year title.