LEGENDARY SINGER LENA HORNE DIES

The enchanting jazz singer and actress Lena Calhoun Horne died on Sunday, at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, she was 92. Ms. Horne was the first black performer with a major studio contract, and she achieved international success in nightclubs and on records. During the 1940s, she was the first to play the Copacabana nightclub and was one of a few with a Hollywood contract. In 1943, MGM Studios loaned her to 20th Century-Fox to play the role of Selina Rogers in the all-black movie musical "Stormy Weather." Her rendition of the title song became a major hit and her signature piece. The striking beauty with the sultry voice was also a civil rights activist who participated in numerous marches and protest.

Her daughter, Gail Lumet Buckley, survives Ms. Horne.


702 MEMBER DIES AT 27

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.' The Las Vegas-based group spawned R&B hits such as “Steelo” and “Get It Together” back in the late 90s. The sisters (along with their cousin Amelia) made their recorded debut on Subway's hit single This Lil' Game We Play (watch below.) 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.

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.

Condolences go out to the Grinstead family, especially to Orish's twin sister, Irish, during this time of their bereavement.


Source: RealGossip101.blogspot.com