He was born into a family of musicians: his father, his grandfather, and his Uncle Robert were organists at the Reims Cathedral, the Basilica of St. Pierre and St. Hilaire, respectively.
В роду де Гриньи было много музыкантов: дедушка и дядя будущего композитора оба служили органистами в местных храмах, а отец работал органистом знаменитого Реймсского собора.