While so many are having a tough time, a new Christmas song written by an 11-year-old blind girl reminds people what the holiday season is about.

Emmanuelle Lo’s ‘Night of Our Lives’ is attracting thousands of YouTube views and high praise from legendary rock musicians. Bobby Whitlock (Delaney & Bonnie, Derek & The Dominoes) wrote, “She sees the true world.” Linda Chorney (2010 Grammy Nominee – Best Americana Album) wrote, “Wow, what a sweet, pure voice, a real gem.”

Emmanuelle Lo was born blind to a family of modest means. She lives with her parents and five siblings in a small, bedroom home in Michigan. Emmanuelle had a love for music from early age, banging on an old church piano and pretending to read music. The family couldn’t afford music lessons, though, so in 2010 a neighbor offered to host a backyard concert to raise money to help with music training. Voluntary donations from about 80 guests bought her a guitar and some music lessons. Several weeks later, she returned with ‘Night of our lives.’

Emmanuelle sang the song at a family-friend’s home, record-producer Doug B. Nelson was there (Stoneagle Music Grammy-nominated producer of the album ‘Pinetop Perkins & Friends’). Nelson loved the song and the 11-year-old girl’s voice and asked her to come in and record.

Nelson enlisted the help of friends and family, Alfonso Ponticelli, Jeff Lantz of Jim Peterik’s World Stage band and son Graham C. Nelson on harmonica, who accompany Emmanuelle along with his long-time friend and recording-engineer Larry Millas (founder/guitarist of the Ides of March, and noted recording-engineer, Billy Idol and ‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor.)

Although the Lo family continues to struggle financially, Emmanuelle plans to donate a portion of the song’s iTunes-sales to the ‘Opportunity Music Project – OMP,’ a New York-based non-profit that provides music lessons for disadvantaged children. “So many people have helped me, I want to help people like I’ve been helped.”

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