Was infuenced by father Buddy Kahn Harlow, a bassist. Began piano studies at age five. Wanted to be a jazz pianist until he first heard the mambo while attending Music and Art High School during the early 1950s. During the 1964 Flushing Queens World's Fair, Harlow played piano for Johnny Pacheco's conjunto before creating the Larry Harlow orchestra. Heavily influence by the Arsenio Rodriquez sound, Harlow modernized it and was hailed a disciple of "El Ciegito Maravilloso" ("The Marvelous Blind One") and was dubbed "El Judio Maravilloso" ("The Marvelous Jew"). After Arsenio's death on December 31, 1970, Harlow emotionally moved the Latin music world with the Fania album "Tribute to Arsenio Rodriquez" in 1971. This was the best recording to the year. Two years later Harlow made headlines again with his Fania album "Hommy", A Latin opera, which was staged at Carnegie Hall. ~ Max Salazar, All Music Guide