ORISH GRINSTEAD, TWIN SISTER OF 702 MEMBER IRISH, DIES AT THE AGE OF 27 OF KIDNEY FAILURE.

Orish Grinstead, founding member of R&B girl group 702 out of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away on Sunday, April 20th from kidney failure. She was 27 years old. Orish, who created the group along with her twin sister, Irish and big sister Lameisha, was what friends called 'a good person, sweet, sincere, humble and full of life.' According to friends Orish had been ill for a long time, and sadly, due to other medical complications she suffered from including cancer that had yet to be treated, she was not expected to live too long. I'll post more details as they become available. But for now, my condolences sincerely go out to the Grinstead family, especially to Orish's twin sister, Irish, during this time of their bereavement.

702 got its start during the mid-90s. after being discovered by comedian/actor Sinbad in the lobby of Caesars Palace where they would sing to anyone who would listen during big boxing matches. Originally called 'Sweeta than Suga' before they knew it, with the help from Sinbad, the three sisters headed to Atlanta to compete in a talent show, coming in second place. Later that same night, the ladies met Michael Bivins (New Edition, Bell, Biv, DeVoe) and sang for him. Bivins, who had already signed Chicago-based boy-band Subway to his Biv 10 Entertainment record label--a subsidiary of Motown Records) agreed to work with the sisters. According to Wikipedia, the sisters (along with their cousin Amelia) made their recorded debut on Subway's hit single This Lil' Game We Play (watch video HERE.) Before their solo album No Doubt was recorded and released in the fall of 1996, Orish left the group and was replaced by childhood friend, Kameelah Williams. The three members renamed themselves '702,' which is Las Vegas' area code.

Thanks to DSR at LSA for the details.

No Doubt, spawned such hits as Steelo, All I Want, Get It Together and the album's title track; as well as a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for BestR&B/Soul Album of the Year - Group, Band or Duo in 1997. It went gold for selling over 500,000 copies worldwide. In 1999, the release of the group's self-titled sophomore album, 702, awarded the girls only one hit single, Where My Girls At? (which was written and produced by Missy Elliott). Still, the album eventually went gold.