Nitta-Jo
Nitta-Jo was the stage name for French singer and performer Fanny Dafflon born in Paris on October 7, 1880. Also known as Fanny Durnell (spouse name). Mistakenly named Jeanne Daflon or Jeanne Dufflin in various publications. Personal life She was the daughter of a Swiss accountant and a French dressmaker. It was said that she made her stage debut at the age of 9, but another account states that as a child from Montmartre "she used to deliver hats from a shop on the Rue de la Paix on her bicycle[,] and when she grew up she became a salesgirl....A well known singing teacher became interested in her voice and gave her lessons and, in due course of time, she became a concert singer." She was married in 1913 in Romania to Charles E. Durnell, nicknamed "Boots", a noted American horse owner and trainer who was in charge of the racing stables of the Romanian politician Alexandru Marghiloman. The couple lived in Romania until the country entered the Great War, then they relocated to Russia, where Durnell also raced horses. They had one child, a boy, who was born in the United States shortly after they arrived. Charles E. "Boots"