Justin M. Nolan Birthday Bash and Memorial Benefit to Livestream Aug. 31

Save the date! The Justin M. Nolan Birthday Bash and Memorial Benefit will stream live from Prairie Street Live in Fayetteville from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31.

The streaming event will be on Facebook and features musical artist Amy Allen, an El Dorado native whose sound is a versatile mix of blues-accented country, pop and Americana.

Deepwood Media will provide the audio and visual services and support the live stream event on their Facebook and YouTube channels as well. More details on streaming will be provided later.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Justin M. Nolan Anthropology Excellence Endowed Award, which was established to honor and remember the award’s namesake, who passed away this spring. The concert is taking place on what would have been the beloved educator’s 49th birthday.

Allen met Nolan when she moved next door to his mother, Betty Linda Nolan. Allen fondly remembers playing the piano with the Nolans, and said she is excited to celebrate and honor Justin on his birthday.

“He had a musical gift and a touch that I still attempt to recreate every time I sit down at any piano,” said Allen, who has who has travelled around the world sharing and making music with others over the last 20 years.

“He had a passion for life that was evident in his music, his writing, his gardening, and in his teaching. I am a better friend and musician because of Justin. My concert to celebrate Justin's life will include many of his favorite songs as well as songs requested by his friends and family.”

Nolan was an El Dorado native, who graduated with honors from El Dorado High School in 1989. His classmates created the award that bears his name after shared grieving on social media quickly evolved into grassroots action.

Nolan’s friends across Arkansas, including colleagues and students at the U of A, were quick to join in on this effort to create a lasting legacy to honor him and his two biggest passions – teaching, and the field of anthropology.

When Allen shared her desire to plan a virtual music event honoring Nolan with other El Dorado natives, she was quickly connected with the members of EHS Class of ’89, and the idea for the Justin M. Nolan Birthday Bash and Memorial Benefit was born.

About Justin Murphy Nolan: Justin Murphy Nolan, 48, passed away on May 19 of a sudden heart attack. He was a notable biocultural anthropologist, who worked with Native American and southern U.S. cultures. Born August 31, 1971, he graduated with honors from El Dorado High School in 1989. Nolan had a B.A. in anthropology from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and a master's degree and a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from the University of Missouri. He joined the University of Arkansas in 2002, as a visiting assistant professor of anthropology. In 2010, he was named associate professor and vice chair of the Department of Anthropology and he later served as department chair from 2016-2018. Condolences can still be expressed at Dignity Memorial online.

About the Justin M. Nolan Anthropology Excellence Endowed Award: The Justin M. Nolan Anthropology Excellence Endowed Award will provide support for University of Arkansas juniors or seniors studying anthropology, sociology, or the humanities, and help faculty members to promote the field of anthropology through student and community outreach efforts. The award will become fully endowed when it reaches a minimum of $25,000 in contributions, which means the award will be able to provide support in perpetuity. Learn more about the award or donate by visiting the fund online. For more information about gifts of stock, payroll deductions, or an employee matching program, please contact Melody Kouchehbagh at melodyk@uark.edu.

About Amy Allen: The singer-songwriter currently resides in her hometown of El Dorado, Arkansas with her wife, Tracy Alderson. She moved from Nashville, Tennessee, back to her hometown to raise her children, Josie Rae and Abbey Layne. Her debut album, “Night Vision” and sophomore album, “Someday Is Today”, are available on iTunes. After moving home, Allen directed the children’s choirs at First Presbyterian Church and First Christian Church of El Dorado. She was also the director of The Glee Club at South Arkansas Art Center for many years. Allen has sponsored many local fundraisers over the years and uses her music as a vehicle to help others.