Irish Grinstead, singer and member of the R&B girl group 702, has died. She was 43 years old.
The vocalist died Saturday night, according to an Instagram post by her sister and bandmate LeMisha Grinstead. No cause of her death was given, but 702 had announced in December that Irish Grinstead would be taking a “leave of absence” from performing “due to serious medical issues.”
The other two members of 702, LeMisha Grinstead and Kameelah Williams, mourned the loss of their beloved bandmate on social media.
“He’s had a long battle and is finally at peace,” LeMisha Grinstead wrote.
“That girl was as bright as the stars! She was not only beautiful on the outside, but also on the inside. Sharing the stage with her was a joy that I will cherish for the rest of my life! We, the family, ask for prayers and respect for our privacy as we mourn an exceptional loss for our family.”
A “devastated and heartbroken” Williams reacted to the news on Saturday.
“There are a lot of things I want to say, but there is no way to say what your heart hasn’t fully accepted,” Williams wrote on Instagram.
“It is difficult to recognize that this is happening. …You and I have known each other since we were kids and we have laughed, cried, celebrated and everything in between… I still love you my little sister forever!!!”
Williams’ tribute also mentioned Irishman Grinstead’s late twin sister, Orish Grinstead, who died of kidney failure in 2008 after a battle with cancer, according to Rolling Stone. She was 27 years old.
“I know you’re feeling better now and hugging your Orish twin, which makes me smile,” Williams said, “because I know how much you missed her.”
In the 1990s and early 2000s, Irish Grinstead and 702 were best known for songs like “Get It Together,” “Steelo,” and “Where My Girls At.” The trio’s debut album, “No Doubt,” came out in 1996, followed by two more albums in 1999 and 2003.
During their initial rise to fame, the group collaborated with the likes of Missy Elliott and the Neptunes. 702, which is the area code for the musicians’ hometown of Las Vegas, disbanded in the mid-2000s, according to Rolling Stone, but had reunited to perform at several events in recent years.
