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Amid a tumultuous year spent weathering both national economic meltdown and a cityscape in a seemingly constant state of flux, Asbury Park's music community has continued to thrive, growing upward, outward and ever closer to its rightful place in rock 'n' roll's history books.

Presented by Saint co-owners Scott Stamper and Adam Weisberg, Saturday's 17th annual Asbury Music Awards at the Stone Pony celebrated another year's bumper crop with a lineup of honors and performers emphasising an array of young, emerging talent forged against all odds.

Featuring live performances by nominated acts such as Black Clouds, Cara Salimando and Quincy Mumford, the AMAs bestowed what might be its most utilitarian honor, Top Young Band, to Wall-based funk/jam rockers Lemon Juice.

Recipients of the award last year, the blues-based rockers of Outside the Box have since opened for Southside Johnny on New Year's Eve at Count Basie Theatre, played alongside Southside and Bobby Bandiera on the Stone Pony's Summer Stage and earned a summer '09 stint as Stone Pony's house band.

Scoring for the ladies last night were Amanda Duncan, named Top Female Acoustic Act, and Eryn Shewell, named Top Female Vocalist.

One of the Awards' most affecting moments came later in the evening, when attendees, performers and presenters came together in tribute to one of Asbury's most dedicated unsung heroes, Larry "Bozo'' Blasco, who passed away in April. Production manager, technician, Asbury fixture; Blasco was posthumously honored with the James M. MacDonald "Behind The Scenes'' Lifetime Achievement Award.

Also honored were multifaceted songstress Jody Joseph, named Living Legend 2009, and omnipresent singer-songwriter Rick Barry, who's latest release, "This Antediluvian World'' was named the Beyond Asbury Record of the Year.

Barry's annual Asbury Rock Stars Charity Tournament -- which raised over 10,000 for local charities this year -- was named Best Thing to Happen in 2008/2009, and his side project No Wine For Kittens was named Top Indie Rock Band.

Allenhurst native Quincy Mumford took home awards for Top Male Acoustic Act, Song of the Year ("Can't Break Free'') and Top Local Release ("South Edgemere'').

Pop rock favorites Status Green earned this year's honors for Top Pop Band, Top Live Performance, Top Male Vocalist (Lou Montesano), Top Bassist (Russell Tolas) and Top Drummer (Mike Monalto).

Other honors includes Top Rock Band (the Amboys), Top Heavy Rock Band (Sekond Skyn), Top Punk Band (Sex Zombies), Top Guitarist (Keith McCarthy) and Top Avant Garde Act (Chemtrail).

Local media outlets were also recognized: Little Falls-based publication The Aquarian Weekly won for Top News Publication In Support of Live Music, and Aquarian writer John Pfeiffer won for Top Journalist in Support of Live Music.

WBJB-FM, Brookdale Public Radio 90.5 The Night won for Top Radio Station, and Night deejay Rich Robinson won for Top Radio Personality. Shorealternative.com won for Top Music Website to Support Live Original Music.

Turtle Soup were honored with Top Groove Band and Top Jam Band, Outside the Box took home honors for Top Blues Band and Top Keyboard Player (Mark Mansfield), Joe Harvard Band won Top Americana, Ken Sorenson of Stringbean and the Stalkers won Top Multi-Instrumentalist and Gregg G. Brown won Poet Laureate.