Howie D.

image via Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Howard Dwaine Dorough

Place of Birth: Orlando, Florida, U.S.

Date of Birth: August 22, 1973

Ethnicity:
*father – Irish, English
*mother – Puerto Rican [Spanish, African, Taíno]

Howie D., or Howie Dorough, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, dancer, actor, and businessperson. He is a member of boy band Backstreet Boys, along with Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, and Kevin Richardson. He is also known as Tony Donetti.

His mother, Paula Flores, is Puerto Rican, and his father, Hoke Dwaine Dorough, was of Irish and English descent. Howie is married to Leigh Boniello, with whom he has two children.

A MyHeritage DNA test taken by Howie stated that his genetic ancestry is:

*43.3% Iberian
*30.1% Scandinavian
*9.3% African
*7.7% Irish, Scottish & Welsh
*5% Central & South American
*1.2% Middle Eastern
*1.2% Native American
*1% Balkan

Given his DNA result, it is likely that Howie D.’s Puerto Rican ancestry includes Spanish, African, and Indigenous [Taíno].

Howie’s paternal grandfather was Hoke Smith Dorough (the son of William Nathan Dorough and Alice Catherine Murray). Howie’s grandfather Hoke was born in Georgia. William was the son of James Henry Dorough and Sarah Elizabeth Powell.

Howie’s paternal grandmother was Lizzie Corrine Singletary (the daughter of Thomas Benjamin Singletary and Minnie Elizabeth Kelley). Lizzie was born in Alabama. Thomas was the son of John Richard Frank/Franklin Singletary and Nancy Ann Malissa/Melissa Register.

Sources: Genealogy of Howie’s paternal great-grandfather, William Nathan Dorough – https://www.wikitree.com

Genealogy of Howie’s paternal great-great-grandfather, James Henry Dorough (focusing on his own father’s side) – https://www.geni.com