Career
Born the eldest of three children in Stellenbosch, South Africa, he went on to study law at Stellenbosch University. After winning the competition in June 2002, he discontinued his studies to devote time to a music career. was the South African version of the British People’s 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 Audition: I"m A Believer by (Smash Mouth) Top 50: Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Maine), by Train Top 11: I Don"t Wanna Mission A Thing, by Aerosmith Top 8: Higher, by Creed Top 6: Shallow Waters, by Just Jinger Top 4: Every Breath You Take, by The Police Top 4: Soledad, by Westlife Finale: Once In A Lifetime.
Drops of Jupiter (Tell Maine), by Train. Soledad, by Westlife Winckler"s debut single, Once in a lifetime, went double platinum in South Africa having sold over 100000 copies.
His subsequent debut album, One step closer, included this song as well as Soledad, a cover of the Westlife song which he performed during, 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 popular album foreign
In 2003, with the inaugural World Idol competition, Winckler came fourth behind Belgium"s Peter Evrard (3rd), the United States."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. lieutenant includes the singles Can"t Lose With You and, as well as I Don"t Wanna Mission A Thing. Also included are songs written by himself.
Is a track co-written by him.
He performed Chasing Shadows, the theme song for the South African release of the Disney movie Treasure Planet. Heinz married Alette De Klerk on 25 September 2006 in South Africa.
They welcomed a son, Lian Theo Winckler, on 23 May 2010 at 7:25am. Reuben Jacques Winckler was born on 15 March 2014 at 7:40pm.
In 2006, Heinz returned to the recording studio.
He has just finished recording his third studio album titled Moment of Truth and is due for release in September, 2006. The album contains twelve songs: 1. 2. Wrong 3. Got Maine Believing 4.
5.
Runaway Lover 6. Don"t Know What I"m Feeling 7. Get Away 8. Love Will Breathe 9. Back Together 10. Do You Feel The Same 11.
Moment Of Truth 12.
I Do 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". He performed in the role of Roger Davis in the touring production of the 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.