Gustav Winckler

Danish schlager and jazz singer and record producer (1925-1979). Winckler was killed in a car accident in 1979. Started singing at amateur nights in the late 40's, became a crooner in the early 50's with career legs in both Denmark and Germany using aliases as Sam Payne (2) and Gunnar Winckler. Record debut in 1957 as Bill Haley/Elvis Presley styled rock'n'roll singer with Gustav Winckler Og The Rocketters. Won the Danish national finale for the European Song contest in the duet "Skibet skal sejle i nat" with Birthe Wilke. The song ended third in the European final. In the 50's and 60's he was Denmark's most popular crooner with a repertoire and deep voice not unlike Bing Crosby. He also teamed up with Bent Werther for a comic vocal duo, sang traditional jazz with Papa Bue's Viking Jazz Band. Parallel to his successful singing career frequent producer for the Sonet label and lyricist and co-owned the Life Records (11) label. He used a number of aliases for his lyrics and song writing and operated a number of companies in relation to his musical work, a.o. Gustav Winckler A/S, Gustav Winckler ApS, Wincklers Musikforlag and Musikproduktion Winckler.