View source for Heinz Winckler

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Distinguish|Heinz}}
{{Use South African English|date=July 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Heinz Winckler
|background = solo_singer
|image = Winckler, Heinz (Canon) 2.jpg
|image_size = 
|caption = Heinz Winckler in 2007
|birth_name = Heinz Carl Heinrich Winckler
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1978|03|22}}
|origin = [[Stellenbosch]], Cape Province, South Africa
|death_date = 
|genre =  
|occupation = Singer
|instrument = Singing, guitar
|years_active = 2002–present
|label =  
|website = https://heinzwinckler.com/
}}
'''Heinz Carl Heinrich Winckler''' (born 22 March 1978) is a South African singer and the winner of the first series of South African ''[[Idols (South Africa)|Idols]]'' and is also an actor.

Born the eldest of three children in [[Stellenbosch]], South Africa, he went on to study law at [[Stellenbosch University]]. After winning the Idols competition in June 2002, he discontinued his studies to devote time to a music career.

== Idols ==
Idols was the South African version of the British ''[[Pop Idol]]'' show, and was presented as a talent search competition with successive elimination rounds narrowing the number of contestants. Throughout the show, Winckler was referred to as "Hunky Heinz" because of his good looks.

=== Songs performed on ''Idols'' ===
* Audition: "[[I'm a Believer]]", by [[Smash Mouth]]
* Top 50: "[[Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)]]", by [[Train (band)|Train]]
* Top 11: "[[I Don't Want to Miss a Thing|I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing]]", by [[Aerosmith]]
* Top 8: "[[Higher (Creed song)|Higher]]", by [[Creed (band)|Creed]]
* Top 6: "Shallow Waters", by [[Just Jinger]]
* Top 4: "[[Every Breath You Take]]", by [[The Police]]
* Top 4: "[[Coast to Coast (Westlife album)|Soledad]]", by [[Westlife]]
* Finale: "Once in a Lifetime" (original song); Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me), by [[Train (band)|Train]]; ''Soledad'', by [[Westlife]]

== Post-''Idols'' career ==
Winckler's debut single, ''Once In A Lifetime'', went [[platinum album|double platinum]] in South Africa for having sold over 100,000 copies. His subsequent debut album, ''One Step Closer'', included this song as well as ''Soledad'', a [[Cover version|cover]] of the [[Westlife]] song which he performed during ''Idols'', and ''Next Stop Happiness'', which became a single as well.

He was nominated for two [[South African Music Awards]], including best single for "Once in a Lifetime" and best pop album for ''One Step Closer''.

In 2003, with the inaugural ''[[World Idol]]'' competition, Winckler came fourth behind [[Belgium]]'s [[Peter Evrard]] (3rd), the US's [[Kelly Clarkson]] (2nd), and [[Norway]]'s [[Kurt Nilsen]] (Winner).

His second album, ''Come Alive'', was released via BMG, and features more ballads and rhythmic songs. It includes the singles "Can't Lose With You" and "Thank You", as well as "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing". Also included are songs written by himself; "Drowning Me" is a track co-written by him.

He performed "Chasing Shadows", the theme song for the South African release of the 2003 [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] movie ''[[Treasure Planet]]''.

Heinz married Alette De Klerk on 25 September 2006 in South Africa. They have three sons and a baby girl.

In 2006, Heinz released his third studio album, ''Moment of Truth''.

He has twice appeared on the music game show ''[[Noot vir Noot]]'' as a guest artist, in seasons 36 and 39. He also appeared as a coach on the Afrikaans music reality show ''Supersterre''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=751 |title=Heinz Winckler &#124; TVSA |website=www.tvsa.co.za |access-date=19 February 2015}}</ref>

==Discography==
'''Albums'''
* ''[[Idols: The Album]]'' (2002)
* ''[[One Step Closer (Heinz Winckler album)|One Step Closer]]'' (November 2002)
* ''Come Alive'' (September 2004)
* ''[[Moment Of Truth (Heinz Winckler album)|Moment Of Truth]]'' (September 2006)
* ''[[Ek kan weer in liefde glo]]'' (October 2009)
* ''24/7/365'' (2011)
* ''[[Jy's bonatuurlik]]'' (2014)

'''Singles'''
* ''Once in a Lifetime'' (June 2002)
* ''Next Stop Happiness'' (March 2004)
* ''One Step Closer''
* ''The Way It Is''
* ''Can't Lose With You''
* ''Drowning Me''
* ''Only For You''
* ''Thank You''
* ''Another Day''
* ''Love's Supposed To Be''
* ''Who You Really Are'' (2011, for the Eurovision contest)

== Acting career ==

He performed in the role of Roger Davis in the touring production of the musical ''[[Rent (musical)|Rent]]'' from the 2007–2008 season.

In 2015, Winckler starred in the romantic comedy ''Mooirivier'' playing a singer performing at an Easter music festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/movies/movie-review-mooirivier-1.1814137#.VOWpjnlO784 |title=MOVIE REVIEW: Mooirivier |website=www.iol.co.za |access-date=19 February 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://heinzwinckler.com/ Heinz Winckler] – official site.

{{Idols South Africa}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Winckler, Heinz}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Idols South Africa winners]]
[[Category:21st-century South African male singers]]
[[Category:Stellenbosch University alumni]]
[[Category:South African people of German descent]]
[[Category:Alumni of Paul Roos Gymnasium]]