Onstage during last week’s One World Concert at Orcas Center, local writer Ed Wilson surprised singer-guitarist-composer Gene Nery by presenting him with a platinum record, commemorating the sale of one million copies of a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album, on which a song sung by Nery with lyrics by Wilson appeared.

The song, entitled “Above the Northern Lights,” appears on the Christmas Song album by Mannheim Steamroller, with music composed and produced by Grammy Award-winner Chip Davis.

Nery has performed on Orcas Island and throughout the Pacific Northwest for two decades. He lives in Eastsound with his wife Nikki Ames, who owns the store Très Fabu! Nery moved to Orcas after performing around the world on Princess Cruises.

Wilson is a writer and creative consultant who lives on Orcas with his wife Kristen and their daughter Paris. He has collaborated for years on music for advertising with Davis, who created the group Mannheim Steamroller and owns American Gramaphone Records.

“Chip called two years ago and asked if I would write lyrics for ‘Northern Lights,’” said Wilson. “After completing the lyrics, I wanted to send a demo to Chip, so I asked Gene if we could record the demo in his studio. I also asked if he would sing the lyrics for the demo. Gene agreed, we recorded, and I sent the demo off to Chip.”

“The next day,” Wilson continued, “Chip called and said, ‘Love the lyrics. Don’t change a word.’ And then he said, ‘Ed, who’s the guy?’ One thing led to another and when the album was released, it contained only three songs with vocals – one by Johnny Mathis, one by Olivia Newton-John and one by Orcas Island’s own Gene Nery.”

Until Wilson handed Nery a copy of the finished CD with the credits imprinted on the back, Nery said that he still wasn’t sure this was all happening.

“I just didn’t believe it,” said Nery. “Now I do, and it’s great!”

The other song on the CD with lyrics by Ed Wilson is entitled “Christmas Lullaby,” sung by Olivia Newton-John. Wilson also received a platinum record.