Jay Della Valle
Encyclopedia
Jay Della Valle best known for his documentary The Glorious Mustache Challenge, is an American
filmmaker, recording artist, singer and songwriter.
, New Jersey
. He is of Italian, Irish
, and Czech ancestry. He grew up in Wayne, New Jersey
and attended Wayne Valley High School
, where he played soccer and ran track, as well as participated in the theater program. Della Valle currently resides in Montclair, New Jersey
.
, Della Valle played with various bands including The Offbeats and Sex With Strangers. After graduating from NYU in 2001 with a degree from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Della Valle recorded an independent EP
called Best Years with bandmate Jon Crane and producer Chris “Gibby” Gibson (Quicksand, Rival Schools). He followed this with 2 other independent EPs before starting to record his first full length debut album, Pink Elephants
, in 2005 with producer Jon Berman (Ours, The Dandy Warhols
, Avril Lavigne
, Duncan Sheik
). He then returned to Chris Gibson in 2008 to record Stay Gold with his band. In 2009, Della Valle toured the east coast with Stache Bash, Della Valle's own invention: a "mustache party rock n’roll tour" he cultivated from his films burgeoning following. A video for his single, Legs So Long It's Crazy, was made in early 2009. Della Valle's 2nd full length album, The Terminology of the Situation Is.... was released in April 2011.
. After graduating high school in 1997, he attended New York University
to further pursue theatre and film opportunities. He worked on a number of independent films and theatre productions while still in college. In 1996 he signed with Ford Models
in NYC which opened up more doors for him in the entertainment field. After graduating NYU in 2001, Della Valle enrolled in the Maggie Flanigan Studio to study the Meisner technique
of acting under the mentorship of Maggie Flanigan.
In 2006, Della Valle started to film his acclaimed documentary, The Glorious Mustache Challenge, which received press and attention from The Today Show
, Good Morning America
, Geraldo at Large
, CNN
, and The New York Times
. "The Glorious Mustache" started when he dared a handful of friends to grow a mustache and not shave for one month. This experiment led him to have the idea to chronicle the experiences of men under 30 in their conquest to revive the "ill-fated" mustache trend. The making of film quickly gained traction and press- garnering featured articles in Time Out New York and on the front page of The New York Times
. and AM New York
Upon its completion, film screenings took the form of "mustache parties" where the film would play, costumes and staches would be required, and inevitably, a mustache contest would be judged by Della Valle. Press from The New York Times caught the eye of Dr. Aaron Perlut and Dr. Dan Callahan, the leaders of the American Mustache Institute
, who would later indoctrinate Della Valle as "Chairman Emeritus". AMI is the one and only institution that vows to protect the legacy of the mustache and the rights of all mustached Americans.
“The Glorius Mustache Challenge” was available for purchase at Urban Outfitters
and Hot Topic
until 2009.
In 2007, Della Valle appeared on the reality show Miami Ink
. While getting tattooed by tattoo artist Chris Garver
, he discusses plans for his band’s album in progress.
by getting sponsors to pledge money for them to rock mustaches throughout the month of MOvember. The charity raised over 40 million dollars in 2009 with over 256,000 worldwide participants.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
filmmaker, recording artist, singer and songwriter.
Early life
Della Valle was born in HackensackHackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He is of Italian, Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, and Czech ancestry. He grew up in Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne is a Township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, located less than from midtown Manhattan. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 54,069....
and attended Wayne Valley High School
Wayne Valley High School
Wayne Valley High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school, one of the two high schools in Wayne, in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Wayne Public Schools...
, where he played soccer and ran track, as well as participated in the theater program. Della Valle currently resides in Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
.
Musical career
While attending New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, Della Valle played with various bands including The Offbeats and Sex With Strangers. After graduating from NYU in 2001 with a degree from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Della Valle recorded an independent EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
called Best Years with bandmate Jon Crane and producer Chris “Gibby” Gibson (Quicksand, Rival Schools). He followed this with 2 other independent EPs before starting to record his first full length debut album, Pink Elephants
Pink Elephants
Pink Elephants is Mick Harvey's second collection of Serge Gainsbourg covers.-Track listing:#"Pink Elephants" – 2:90#"Requiem. . . " – 2:35#"The Javanaise " – 2:30#"Black Seaweed " – 2:21...
, in 2005 with producer Jon Berman (Ours, The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols are an American alternative rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1994. The band was founded by singer-guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor and guitarist Peter Holmström, with keyboardist Zia McCabe and drummer Eric Hedford later joining. Hedford left in 1998 and was replaced by...
, Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
, Duncan Sheik
Duncan Sheik
Duncan Scott Sheik is an American singer-songwriter and composer. Sheik initially found success as a singer, most notably for his 1996 debut single "Barely Breathing". He later expanded his work to include compositions for motion pictures and the Broadway stage, leading him to involvement in the...
). He then returned to Chris Gibson in 2008 to record Stay Gold with his band. In 2009, Della Valle toured the east coast with Stache Bash, Della Valle's own invention: a "mustache party rock n’roll tour" he cultivated from his films burgeoning following. A video for his single, Legs So Long It's Crazy, was made in early 2009. Della Valle's 2nd full length album, The Terminology of the Situation Is.... was released in April 2011.
Film career
Della Valle started acting in 1995 while still in high school. He took the bus into New York City from New Jersey every week to take acting classes at the American Academy of Dramatic ArtsAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with facilities located in Manhattan, New York City – at 120 Madison Avenue, in a landmark building designed by noted architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club – and in Hollywood, California...
. After graduating high school in 1997, he attended New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
to further pursue theatre and film opportunities. He worked on a number of independent films and theatre productions while still in college. In 1996 he signed with Ford Models
Ford Models
The Ford Modeling Agency, or as it is known today Ford Models, is a modeling agency in New York City. It was established in 1946 by Eileen and the late Gerard W. Ford.-Company:...
in NYC which opened up more doors for him in the entertainment field. After graduating NYU in 2001, Della Valle enrolled in the Maggie Flanigan Studio to study the Meisner technique
Meisner technique
The Meisner technique is an acting technique developed by the American theatre practitioner Sanford Meisner.Meisner developed this technique after working with Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler at the Group Theatre and as head of the acting program at New York City's Neighborhood Playhouse and...
of acting under the mentorship of Maggie Flanigan.
In 2006, Della Valle started to film his acclaimed documentary, The Glorious Mustache Challenge, which received press and attention from The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
, Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
, Geraldo at Large
Geraldo at Large
Geraldo at Large is a United States television newsmagazine, hosted by Fox News correspondent-at-large and former talk show host Geraldo Rivera.-History:...
, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. "The Glorious Mustache" started when he dared a handful of friends to grow a mustache and not shave for one month. This experiment led him to have the idea to chronicle the experiences of men under 30 in their conquest to revive the "ill-fated" mustache trend. The making of film quickly gained traction and press- garnering featured articles in Time Out New York and on the front page of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. and AM New York
AM New York
amNewYork is a morning free daily newspaper , published in New York City by Cablevision. According to the company, average daily distribution as of December 2008 was 345,053, according to MondoNewspapers.com. When the newspaper launched October 10, 2003, amNewYork was the first newspaper of its...
Upon its completion, film screenings took the form of "mustache parties" where the film would play, costumes and staches would be required, and inevitably, a mustache contest would be judged by Della Valle. Press from The New York Times caught the eye of Dr. Aaron Perlut and Dr. Dan Callahan, the leaders of the American Mustache Institute
American Mustache Institute
The American Mustache Institute is an advocacy organization and registered 501 not-for-profit based in St. Louis, Missouri. When founded in 1965, by Dr. SCHNURRBART SNOR, AMI was the only organization in the world working towards facial hair advocacy...
, who would later indoctrinate Della Valle as "Chairman Emeritus". AMI is the one and only institution that vows to protect the legacy of the mustache and the rights of all mustached Americans.
“The Glorius Mustache Challenge” was available for purchase at Urban Outfitters
Urban Outfitters
Urban Outfitters, Inc. is a publicly traded American company that owns and operates five retail brands: Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, Terrain, and BHLDN....
and Hot Topic
Hot Topic
Hot Topic is an American retail chain specializing in music and pop culture-related clothing and accessories, as well as licensed music on CD. The majority of the stores are located in regional shopping malls. The first Hot Topic store was opened in 1988 by Orv Madden, who retired as CEO in 2000...
until 2009.
In 2007, Della Valle appeared on the reality show Miami Ink
Miami Ink
Miami Ink is an American reality show on TLC that follows the events that took place at a tattoo shop in Miami Beach, Florida. The show premiered in July 2005 and has finished broadcasting its fourth season...
. While getting tattooed by tattoo artist Chris Garver
Chris Garver
Chris Garver is a tattoo artist featured on the TLC reality television show Miami Ink. He is widely considered as one of the best tattoo artists in the world, with a two year long waiting list of clients....
, he discusses plans for his band’s album in progress.
Discography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Best Years |
| 2004 | Della Valle |
| 2005 | Pink Elephants |
| 2007 | Stay Gold |
| 2009 | Legs So Long It's Crazy (Single) |
| 2011 | The Terminology Of The Situation Is... |
Activism
Della Valle is the official MC and Host for Movember's annual "Mustache Gala" which takes place every November in New York City. Movember is an interactive charity that allows men to raise money for Men's Prostate Cancer Foundation & Lance Armstrong FoundationLance Armstrong Foundation
The Lance Armstrong Foundation is a United States 501 nonprofit organization that provides support for people affected by cancer, founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong. The LAF states that its mission is 'to inspire and empower' cancer sufferers and their families...
by getting sponsors to pledge money for them to rock mustaches throughout the month of MOvember. The charity raised over 40 million dollars in 2009 with over 256,000 worldwide participants.