Parmentier was born in Antwerp, Belgium, into a musical family of five children and his father was an organist. He received his Doctorate in Music at the Université Philotechnique in Brussels and performed concerts in Belgium, Holland, and England. In 1916, he moved to New York City and played many of the great theatre organs there, including the Capitol, the Roxy, and Radio City Music Hall. (info from Michael's Music Service)