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Above: Staples High School junior Amanda Horowitz recently released the single “We’re Givin’ It All We’ve Got,” with help from veteran rocker Charlie Karp. It is available on iTunes. Contributed photo/Kerry Long Photography

These days, Amanda Horowitz is as much a part of the 1970s as she is of the aughts.

As a member of the Staples Players, she is playing Val, one of the aspiring dancers in Michael Bennett’s award-winning musical “A Chorus Line,” which debuted in 1975. She also is enjoying a decidedly modern musical moment. A new single she recorded with music veteran Charlie Karp, who first got his start in the 1970s, has made its way to iTunes.

Although she has been part of group recordings in the past, this 1980s-flavored pop anthem, “We’re Givin’ It All We’ve Got,” is Amanda’s first single.

It was originally written and recorded in the 1980s, when Karp was with his band “Charlie and the Namedroppers.” It was released on a record produced by the defunct label Grunge. After Amanda aced her audition, work got under way to rework it and release it.

“I’ve always thought about having a song on iTunes, but I never thought it would actually happen this soon,” Amanda, 16, said during a recent interview.

Similar words were uttered by Karp more than 40 years ago when he was picked by Buddy Miles, Jimi Hendrix’s drummer, to join him on the road. At the time, Karp was an aspiring 16-year-old musician at Staples, who spent most of his days practicing and playing his guitar.

Karp’s then girlfriend’s older brother was a road manager for the band and had arranged for Miles to play at Staples High School in 1970. Low on band members, Miles gave Karp a chance, which quickly led to a full-time gig and an international tour. Karp also performed on Miles’ 1970 album “Them Changes,” which featured a song written by Karp, “I Still Love You Anyway.”

“I wouldn’t recommend this for anybody,” Karp said, laughing, who left high school to pursue his dream. “But I really did get a college education that I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else.”

He said he was pleased to have repaid the favor Miles extended to him.

“I’m so glad to be involved with the project,” said Karp, who played guitar on the track and recorded it at his Fairfield studio. “It is gratifying to share what you have experienced musically.”

It was another Staples alum, Fred Cantor, who helped to put the two together. Cantor, a 1971 Staples graduate, is the song’s executive producer.

Cantor, who reconnected with Karp at a recent high school reunion, also is involved with music. He is one of the writers and producers of the 2009 documentary “America’s Lost Band,” about The Remains, a band with two Westport natives (Barry Tashian and Billy Briggs) who gained success by the mid-1960s before fizzling out. The band also was the inspiration behind “All Good Things” a musical that was performed at the 2004 New York International Fringe Festival and directed by David Roth, a former Staples student and the director of the Staples Players.

“Amanda has tremendous talent and promise,” said Cantor, adding that she is a reflection of the talent that comes out of the program.

Amanda said she loved getting feedback from a “local legend.”

“I just felt so lucky to be working with both of them,” she said.

“I play piano and a little guitar and I love teaching myself songs I hear on the radio,” said Amanda. “I plan on studying voice in college and I have dreamed of becoming a professional singer one day.”

Karp, too, set out to be a professional musician. After recording four albums with Miles, he formed White Chocolate in 1972, which was signed to RCA Records. Later that decade, he became a member of The Dirty Angels, which also got a deal with RCA, and shared the stage with acts such as Aerosmith and The Ramones. That group recently got together for a reunion in Bridgeport.

Through the 1980s, he worked as a session musician and songwriter. Today, he continues to write, teach, perform and produce, including music for sports networks, documentaries and feature films.

For now, Amanda hopes the song generates interest (15 percent of the artists’ royalties from its sales will be donated to three Staples High School programs, including the Staples Players). She also has a couple of remaining performances in the run of “A Chorus Line”  — Thursday, March 21 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 23, at 3 p.m.

“The entire experience has definitely inspired me to continue developing my voice,” she said.