Heinz Winkler: Singer

Corporate entertainer and chart-topping singer Heinz Winkler delivers polished, crowd-pleasing live performances, blending pop hits, professionalism, and national star power for premium events.

Quick Facts:

  • Highlights:
    • Winner of the first Idols South Africa (2002)
    • Major-label recording artist with multiple chart-topping singles
    • Disney movie soundtrack performer
    • SAMA nominee for Best Pop Album
  • Formats:

    Corporate entertainer and live pop music performer

  • Audience:

    Corporate events, conferences, gala dinners, brand activations, and audiences seeking well-known, high-quality live entertainment.

  • Outcomes:
    1. A polished, professional live music experience
    2. Strong audience engagement through recognisable hits
    3. Elevated event atmosphere with national star appeal
Reading time: 3 min
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: Johannesburg

Talent Short Bio

Heinz Winkler is one of South Africa’s most recognisable pop artists and a highly sought-after corporate entertainer. Born in Stellenbosch on 22 March 1978, Heinz’s journey to stardom began while studying law at Stellenbosch University, before music took centre stage.

He burst onto national television in June 2002 after winning the first season of Idols South Africa, securing a major recording contract with Sony BMG Records. His debut single, Once in a Lifetime, was performed live to a 500-strong studio audience and broadcast to millions of viewers, instantly establishing him as a household name.

Heinz’s success extended internationally when Walt Disney selected him to perform Chasing Shadows, one of the credit songs for the animated feature Treasure Planet. The song became a major hit in South Africa, contributing to the film’s strong local box-office performance.

Born in Stellenbosch, South Africa, on 22 March 1978, the now 28 year old Heinz Winkler – Corporate Entertainer has come a long way since he studied law at Stellenbosch University.

He burst onto South African TV screens winning the first South African M-Net Idols competition (the equivalent of American Idol) in June 2002 & a major recording contract with Sony BMG Records.

Heinz Winkler twice performed his debut single, “Once In A Lifetime” to a 500-strong live audience & millions of television viewers.

Walt Disney employed his talent to perform one of the credit songs, “Chasing Shadows” for the movie “Treasure Planet”. Success of the movie was attributed to Heinz’s performance & was a hit on the S.A market, grossing over R3 million in the first weekend.

The first radio single off this brilliantly produced, mature pop album, ‘Can’t Lose With You’ has reached #1 on many S.A radio stations. The second single off the album was a track that was co-written by Heinz.

‘Drowning Me’ performed well on national and regional stations. Both of these singles have been added onto the very popular NOW compilation albums (38 and 39 respectively).

“Come Alive” was nominated for a South African Music Award (SAMA) in April 2005 in the Best Pop Album category.

The third and fourth radio singles, ‘Only For You’ and ‘Thank You’, once again raced up the South African radio charts.

Recently Heinz Winkler was asked to support Westlife on their Greatest Hits tour to South Africa. Accompanied by his 5 piece band, Heinz rocked the cities of Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Johannesburg, playing to about 40 000 people in just 6 days!

The catchy yet meaningful English single, “Who You Really Are,” has also been released as a radio single. The song that seems to be grabbing people’s hearts the most, is the powerful “100 000 Gebede,” which Heinz wrote for South Africa.

Heinz Winkler first Afrikaans offering, “Ek Kan Weer In Liefde Glo,” reached platinum sales status in 2011. His album, “24/7/365,” was launched in July 2011 and reached gold status in Feb 2012! Heinz Winkler supporters are praising the latest album with hit singles like “1001 Soene”, “Jy’s Net Myne” and “Blindfolded” (co-written by American Idol winner Kris Allen), which has taken the English top 40 stations and Adult Contemporary stations by storm.

This 17 track hitlist cd also sports the huge hit, “You and I”, a duet with Charlize Berg, and the popular “sokkie” hit and title track, “24/7/365”.

The Johannesburg based private school, Curro Aurora, approached Heinz Winkler to help them set up a brand new, state of the art Performing Arts Academy on their campus. What started out as a dream around a table in 2011 and a rough sketch on an iPad, is now a reality.

Soon students will have access to this integrated, state of the art facility with dedicated music rehearsal rooms where they will be taught in voice, guitar, bass guitar, drums, piano and keyboard. This will be linked to a music studio and control room, which will be linked to a open air live venue as well as a dance studio.

This opportunity gives kids the chance to learn all the different facets and disciplines of modern music as well as foundational classical music.

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