Larsen was born in Cleveland but moved to Sarasota, Florida as a young boy. He was trained on piano, and soon became a fan of both jazz and the rising rock scene. As a keyboardist, he was greatly influenced by the likes of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and the MJQ. In 1969, he was drafted and sent to Vietnam, but was able to land a position as a band director, overseeing armed forces bands.
When his duty was over, he moved to New York and hooked up with guitarist Buzzy Feiten, a life-long musical associate. Feiten is also showcased on this recording, and the two had several successful groups together. In 1975, Larsen began touring with Gregg Allman's first solo band. From there, he balanced his solo career with a number of high profile musical associations, including working as musical director and keyboard for jazz icon, Al Jarreau.