Irish Grinstead, a founding member of the platinum-selling R&B group 702, has died at 43.
Her dying was confirmed by her older sister LeMisha Grinstead-Fields, additionally a member of 702, in a social media put up.
“It’s with nice unhappiness that I’ve to let you recognize that my stunning sister and buddy has handed away. She has had a protracted battle and he or she is lastly at peace,” LeMisha wrote on Instagram. “That woman was as shiny as the celebrities! She was not solely stunning on the surface, but in addition inside. Sharing the stage along with her was a pleasure I’ll cherish for the remainder of my life! We, the household ask for prayers and respect for our privateness as we grieve an impressive loss to our household.”
In late 2022, it was introduced on 702’s official Instagram web page that Irish can be stepping away from performing resulting from “severe medical points.”
“We remorse to tell you that at the moment Irish Grinstead shall be taking a medical depart of absence resulting from severe medical points. It’s our hope that she may have a wholesome and speedy restoration within the months to return. We ask that at this very tough time that you simply please respect our privateness and proceed to wish for us as Meelah and Misha proceed to navigate and characterize 702 for upcoming performances in 2023,” the put up learn.
Irish’s premature announcement comes 15 years after the passing of her twin sister, Orish, who was an authentic member of 702. Orish died on the age of 27 resulting from kidney failure.
Irish and its three different authentic members of the then-quartet 702 recorded a 1995 duet titled “This Lil’ Sport We Play” with Subway. Michael Bivins, a founding member of New Version and Bell Biv DeVoe, who found each Subway and 702, launched the duet on his label Biv 10.
In 1996, 702, a trio, launched their debut album No Doubt. “Steelo,” the group’s official first single, hit No. 12 on the Scorching Black Singles chart and No. 32 on the Scorching 100. “Get it Collectively” did even higher, peaking at No. 3 on the Scorching Black Singles chart and No. 10 on the Scorching 100.
“Steelo” was later repurposed for the enduring theme track of Nickelodeon’s Cousin Skeeter.
No Doubt went gold for promoting greater than 500,000 copies a 12 months later. Moreover, the album made 702 the primary all-female R&B group to succeed in No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, six years after its formation.
702’s 1999 self-titled album (platinum promoting with over a million items offered) was their most profitable, due to “The place My Ladies At?” Co-written and co-produced by Missy Elliott, the empowering anthem peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Scorching 100. Different singles from the album embrace “Gotta Depart.”
Following the success of the album, the group took a four-year hiatus earlier than their third and last studio album, Star. The album celebrated its twentieth anniversary earlier this 12 months.
In 2021, Irish appeared as a forged member of BET Presents: The Encore. Two years earlier than this, Irish joined LeMisha and Kameelah to carry out tribute to Xscape on the 2019 Black Music Honors. Revisit the efficiency beneath.
