Why I Love You: Meet The Ultimates

In the heart of 1970s West Philadelphia, childhood friends came together under the mentorship of the visionary Evetta Valentine to form The Ultimates. United by their shared love of music, they recorded a ballad called “Why I Love You”—a track deeply in tune with the sound of its time. Though it was recorded at the legendary Sigma Sound Studios and released on Valentine’s own independent label, Valentine Records, the song quietly disappeared into obscurity.

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Decades later and nearly 3,000 miles from its birthplace, “Why I Love You” was resurrected by an unexpected community: the California Chicano lowrider scene. Embraced for its lush instrumentation and heartfelt vocals, the song became a cultural gem, passed down through generations of car clubs and music collectors. In giving the song new life, they gave The Ultimates a long-overdue second chance.

Why I Love You: Meet The Ultimates is a poignant short documentary exploring the soul, silence, and rediscovery of a group whose contribution to Philadelphia's music scene went uncelebrated for too long. Through intimate interviews and archival material, the film traces the journey of The Ultimates members Monica Thornton and Debra Gunn Herbin, and the power of Evetta Valentine’s independent spirit, which connected two seemingly distant communities through music. It’s a story of legacy, reinvention, and how the right song can find its audience—no matter how long it takes.