Irish Grinstead was a singer with the 1990s girl group 702, known for their songs “Where My Girls At?” and “Get It Together.”
- Died: September 16, 2023 (Who else died on September 16?)
- Details of death: Died after a long illness in Las Vegas at the age of 43.
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Irish Grinstead’s legacy
When Grinstead attended the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts with her twin sister Orish and older sister LeMisha, they sang in the lobby of Caesars Palace, hoping to get noticed. Their efforts caught the attention of the actor and comedian Sinbad, who appreciated their talent and invited them to a music competition in Atlanta. Performing as Sweeta Than Suga, they took second place and scored a contract with Michael Bivins of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe.
Grinstead remained in the group after a name and lineup change, with Orish leaving and singers Kameelah Williams and Tiffany Villarreal joining, though Villarreal would leave after just six months. The group’s name, 702, was taken from the area code of Las Vegas. Their 1996 debut, “No Doubt,” included the hit song “Steelo,” co-written by Missy Elliott. “Get It Together” was an even bigger single, landing in the Top 10. They followed this in 1999 with their self-titled second record. They again co-wrote with Elliott and released another hit single, “Where My Girls At?” which earned them a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award nomination.
Grinstead and the group took a brief hiatus before their third album, then broke up in 2006. Two years later, Grinstead’s twin Orish, who had provided some backing vocals for 702, died from kidney failure while battling cancer. Irish and LeMisha officially reunited as 702 for the BET show “BET Presents: The Encore” in 2021. In late 2022, Irish took a medical leave due to chronic health issues.
Tributes to Irish Grinstead
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
