Howie Dorough
The steadfast heart of the Backstreet Boys, whose smooth tenor harmonies and quiet dedication helped anchor the biggest boy band in history.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American singer, member of the Backstreet Boys·Birthday: August 22·Generation X
Biography
Howie Dorough wasn't the loudest Backstreet Boy, but he was often the glue. Discovered in Orlando in the early 1990s, his soulful voice became a foundational element of the group's signature layered harmonies. As the Backstreet Boys skyrocketed to global superstardom, Dorough provided a steady, reliable counterpoint to the frenzy. He was the member with deep roots in Latin music (his mother is Puerto Rican) and a keen business mind, often involved in the group's strategic decisions. After navigating the intense highs and lows of pop fame, including the group's temporary commercial slump and the tragic loss of his sister, Dorough emerged as a passionate advocate for health and family. His journey reflects the endurance required for a decades-long career in pop music, proving that quiet consistency can be as powerful as flashy showmanship.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Howie was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Howie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Howie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As a member of the Backstreet Boys, has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music groups in history.
- Co-founded the Backstreet Boys' charitable foundation, which supported children's health and educational causes.
- Released a solo Latin-pop album, 'Back to Me,' in 2011.
- Performed for over 1.1 million people during the Backstreet Boys' record-breaking 'Millennium' tour.
Did You Know?
He is a licensed real estate agent in the state of Florida.
He lost his older sister, Caroline, to lupus in 1998 and became a national ambassador for the Lupus Foundation of America.
He was originally part of a vocal trio called 'The Howie D. All-Stars' before joining the Backstreet Boys.
He provided the singing voice for the character of Diego in the Disney Channel movie 'The Cheetah Girls 2.'
“We're not a boy band, we're a man band. We've grown up together, and our music has grown with us.”
