Courtesy: Whataburger
For many in South Texas, Tejano music and Whataburger go hand in hand — and for David Wicker, those traditions are inseparable.
In the early 1990s, Wicker was an air traffic controller living in West Virginia when he first discovered Tejano music by chance. While on a trip to Idaho, he heard the voice of Letty Guval, a young singer studying mariachi in college and handing out demo tapes wherever she could — even to radio stations near where her family worked on beet farms.
Captivated by her talent, Wicker traveled to Corpus Christi, Texas, to meet Guval in person. That decision led him to become her manager, help record her debut album, and launch a journey that took her music across the U.S. and Mexico.
“I did it because I loved it,” said Wicker. “I just fell in love with the music.”
Letty Guval | Courtesy
Burgers with the Band
During Tejano’s golden era in the ’90s, Whataburger became more than a late-night food stop — it was a gathering place for artists after their shows. Selena Quintanilla-Perez, known to be a fan of the Texas burger chain, once famously declared “Whataburger for everybody!” during the 1989 Tejano Music Awards.
Selena wins at the 9th annual Tejano Music Awards
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According to Wicker, that love for Whataburger was widespread. “I don’t think you can separate Whataburger from Tejano music,” he said. “That’s where the groups would go after the shows.”
Those late-night runs often came with unforgettable moments. Wicker recalls one night when singer Reno Perez borrowed his car at a Whataburger drive-thru. Perez misjudged the distance from the window, opened the door, and accidentally knocked the drive-thru window off its track. “We still got our food,” Wicker laughed.
A Taste of Home on the Road
Guval’s career brought her and Wicker everywhere from U.S. concert halls to a performance at the White House during Hispanic Heritage Month. Still, no matter where they traveled, the sight of the iconic orange-and-white “Flying W” sign brought comfort.
“When we were out on the road, we’d eat whatever we could find,” Wicker shared. “But when we saw Whataburger again, everybody wanted to go. We always knew what to expect — the service was right, and the food just hit the spot.”
Today, Tejano artists continue to make Whataburger a stop after the show all across Texas.
Whataburger at 75
This year, Whataburger celebrates its 75th anniversary by honoring stories like Wicker’s and countless others from across Texas and beyond. Marking its diamond anniversary in 2025, the iconic brand says it is “dedicating the whole year to celebrating the fans and Family Members that have made these seven and a half decades a love story for the ages.”
For Wicker and the Tejano music community, that love story isn’t just about burgers — it’s about tradition, music, and memories that still resonate today.
Share your Whataburger story and you could be one of the featured 75 stories the burger chain is sharing for their 75th birthday.
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