eurovision 1957
Gustav Winckler
Gustav Winckler represented Denmark at Eurovision 1957 in Frankfurt with “Skibet skal sejle i nat”, finishing 3rd of 10.
- who
- Danish singer-songwriter
- born
- 13 October 1925, Copenhagen, Denmark
- died
- 20 January 1979 (aged 53), Viborg, Denmark
- contest
- 1957
- best result
- 3rd, 1957
- active
- 1950 to 1979
- sang for
- Denmark
Biography
Gustav Winckler, who died in 1979, was a popular Danish singer, composer and music publisher who grew up in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen. With Birthe Wilke, Winckler sang the first song Denmark sent to the contest, “Skibet skal sejle i nat”, and finished third in Frankfurt in 1957.
Written by ESC Predictions, 8 October 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, “Gustav Winckler”.
Follow and listen
The act’s own accounts, as listed on Wikidata. If one is wrong or out of date, tell us and we’ll take it down.
At Eurovision
One song, and what became of it.
-
1957 Frankfurt
“Skibet skal sejle i nat”
3rd of 10 Finished 3rd of 10, with 10 points.
- Billed as
- Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler
- With
- Birthe Wilke
- Sung in
- Danish
- Written by
- Erik Fiehn, Poul Sørensen
- Conductor
- Kai Mortensen
- Running order
- 9th of 10
- Age on the night
- 31
- Won that year
- Netherlands: Corry Brokken, “Net als toen”
The story of Eurovision 1957: The scoreboard arrives — and so does a five-minute song
In our contest stories
What we wrote about Gustav Winckler, year by year. Follow a link for the rest of that night.
- 1957 Firsts
Denmark sent Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler, the first duo to compete, who finished their song with a passionate kiss on camera. They came third.
Results as published by the European Broadcasting Union. Biographical details from Wikidata. The photo is from Wikimedia Commons and is credited beside it. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll fix it.