JERSEY FOOTLIGHTS; Top of the Pops at the Shore (Published 1999)

• Aug. 15, 1999

The pop music industry has its Grammys; country has the Country Music Awards. And New Jersey has the Asbury Music Awards, celebrating musical talent on the bar band scene, particularly at the shore.

On Tuesday night, at the seventh annual awards ceremony, Samhill, from Red Bank, walked away with two honors: top roots act and top male vocalist for its lead singer, Peter Scherer. The top alternative band was the Amazing Meet Project of Toms River, with Mike Ferrentino as lead singer. The award for top pop band went to Evelyn Forever, a New Brunswick group recording on the independent label Airplay, based in Asbury Park.

The awards were given during a three-hour, 10-band jam session at the Tradewinds in Sea Bright. They are not confined to honoring musicians: Vintage Vinyl, a music store in Fords that sells the CD's of most local groups and solo artists, was named ''best thing'' of 1998-99 in ''celebration of 20 years of musical bliss.'' (Last year's best thing was the reopening of Convention Hall in Asbury Park, which was internationally noted for the rock acts booked there in the 1960's and 70's.)

The voters were music professionals and fans who obtained ballots in the local clubs. The music awards were started by Scott Stamper, owner of the Saint in Asbury Park, and Peter P. Mantas, founder of Airplay. KAREN DeMASTERS

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