The Orlando Sentinel

A Final Goodbye: The End Of The Backstreet Boys

AP

Tampa, FL ~ The final curtain call has come and gone for the Backstreet Boys, following last night's death of the final remaining member of the group, Howie Dorough. According to authorities, Dorough's sister Pollyanna, also a recording artist, whom Dorough produced, entered his house on the evening of the 5th to find him hanging from the ceiling of Dorough's home studio.

One year ago today Dorough, along with fellow Backstreet Boys AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, and Kevin Richardson, having reported final member Nick Carter missing two days prior, found him tied to his anchor in the ocean behind his Tampa home. Two weeks later, Richardson took his life with a shot to the right temple, and seven weeks after that McLean was found in his home dead from an overdose of cocaine. Littrell and his wife, Leighanne Littrell, an actress from Atlanta, GA, were gunned down last week by crazed fan Melissa Maggaroulian, who pleaded guilty just yesterday to two counts of premeditated murder in the first degree.

The Backstreet Boys, who hit it big in 1998 with such songs as "Quit Playin' Games," "I'll Never Break Your Heart" and "As Long As You Love Me," became one of the most popular groups of all time, selling millions of records, and became the highest selling group of all time shortly before the death of Carter last year. Surviving such clone acts as NSYNC, LFO, and O-Town, the Backstreet Boys enjoyed a long career with JIVE Records before finally breaking up after the death of Richardson. Prior to Richardson's death, no announcements had been made as to the status of the group.

Midnight vigils are being held around the world tonight as the world mourns the final loss of one of the most beloved musical phenomenons in history.

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