Another dream came true for Howie Dorough of the Backstreet Boys Sunday night when he hosted Lupus 2000, a benefit honoring his late sister Caroline.
"My sister passed away two years ago," Dorough said. "Instead of taking this as a negative, really sad thing, I`m trying to turn it into a positive. I know that`s what she would have wanted."
The event, which featured about 15 acts and drew 800 people, raised more than $100,000 at the groove at Universal`s CityWalk.
Howie sang a duet with his sister, Pollanna, of a version he rewrote of Candle in the Wind. "It`s a very emotional night for me," Howie said.
Howie said he attended Backstreet Boys member Kevin Richardson`s intimate wedding in Lexington, Ky., last Saturday. But they didn`t sing. "Kevin was crying too much, so he couldn`t sing. He`s a very emotional guy. All of us were very emotional there. He`s like a brother," Howie said.
The grand finale featured A.J. McLean taking the stage with all the performers, including Tito Puente Jr., Deborah Gibson and Wayne Brady, singing Brick House. Another big hit of the evening was Barry Williams. You haven`t heard anything until you`ve heard Greg Brady of The Brady Bunch belt out We are the Champions.
Making the Band`s O-Town prompted squeals and tear-stained faces with their debut stage performance. Jacob Underwood`s blond curls are dyed henna red, and Ikaika Kohaono looked a whole lot like Dan Miller. Those guys are headed out on a cross-country radio tour and have two songs featured on the sound track on the Pokemon sequel Pikachu`s Rescue and a ballad, One Heart.
Deborah Gibson said she was happy to perform because she met Howie when he was going through all the turmoil of his sister`s recent death. Gibson is working on a VH-1 movie that`s a black comedy about her pop-princess experiences.
At the auction, two people bid $15,500 each for dinner with Howie.
