Johnny Bode

Johnny Bode (6 January 1912 – 25 July 1983) was a Swedish singer and composer, who was a Nazi sympathizer and convicted fraudster. Bode had a turbulent career, and was at one point sent to a mental hospital. He published compositions under several different names.

Biography

Music career

Bode was 17 years old when his first phonograph recording was released, and he proceeded to record hundreds of songs on 78-rpm records, many of which were his own compositions. One of his best-known songs, "En herre i frack"(A gentleman in a tailcoat), was recorded by Swedish actor and singer Gösta Ekman in 1935. The song later became popularized by Swedish singer Jan Malmsjö, who added it to his repertoire.

The last gramophone record featuring Johnny Bode as a singer was recorded in 1942.

Bode was known for failing to pay his debts and was blacklisted from several Stockholm restaurants. Through his school friend Hasse Ekman, he became friends with Hasse's father Gösta Ekman. He became one of Bode's most influential supporters, until Ekman discovered that Bode had forged his name on a cheque. As a result, Ekman cut ties with Bode entirely.

After being convicted of fraud, Bode was declared mentally unstable and committed to St. Sigfrid mental hospital in Växjö, where he was sterilized.

Bode's interest in Nazism in the early 1940s led to him being blacklisted from Swedish show business for the rest of his life.

Connection to Nazi Party

During his stay at St. Sigfrid, Bode obtained permission to travel to Finland, where he enlisted with the Nazis. However, due to Bode's physical status and general unreliability he was sent home with an under-officer degree from the Nazi army.