Around the Rivers: Pittsburgh Native Writes 'Black And Gold' Music for Potential Steeler Anthem

Andrew Knox fell in love with the Pittsburgh Steelers when he came to Pittsburgh as a music student at Duquesne University.

Now his Richland-based music production company, AKM Productions, is working with the NFL on creating a song that could become the official, NFL-sanctioned Steelers anthem.

"The amazing thing about the Steelers and the whole NFL is that no team really has an anthem to play when they come on the field," said Knox. "That's what inspired me to get this music out there. A goal of mine is to make it the Steelers anthem to be played for them wherever they go."

Actually, Knox wrote two songs: "We Are The Black and Gold" and "Get Hit With the Black and Gold."

Using bagpipes in the songs' intros as a nod to the Irish roots of the Rooney family that owns the team, Knox produced rock and hip-hop songs with catchy beats and proud-to-be-a-Steeler lyrics.

The songs are performed by Jason Paige, who currently is touring with Blood, Sweat & Tears.

Knox also produced two music videos that were filmed at Stadium using local talent—Knoch High School cheerleaders and Pine-Richland High School football players.

"My niece (McKenzie Davis) is a cheerleading captain at Knoch High School," Knox explained.

After her Uncle Andrew played the music for her, she jumped at the chance to choreograph a dance routine.

The videos feature Pittsburgh and Steeler game scenes, the cheerleaders' dance routine and crowd shots that include football players.

Knox needed a place to film the video, so he called Pine-Richland Athletic Director Clair Altemus.

"They let me shoot it on the field," Knox said. "It was a nice community effort; everyone volunteered for it."

donated the film equipment, and RMU student Nathan Kesneck shot and edited the videos. Pittsburgh-based videographer Nathan Kress also helped with the shoot.

"It was cold and it was raining and it was miserable out there," Knox said about the four-hour photo shoot. "You'd never know it from the smiles on the girls' faces. It was a great effort by everyone."

The T-shirts in the video were designed by Andrew Knox also. He is selling them for $15 each with all proceeds going to the United Way, which has partnerned with the NFL for more than three decades. To order, send an email to akmproductions@mac.com