Larry Grossman, a native of Chicago, graduated from Northwestern University, School of Speech (now Communication) in 1960. He started working in New York City as a vocal coach and accompanist. One of his songs was used in the revue No Shoestrings (1962). He began working with lyricist Hal Hackaday in 1968, and their first work together was the title song for the play Play It Again, Sam (1969). Their collaboration led to Grossman's Broadway debut in 1970 with Minnie's Boys. He went on to write the scores for four musicals including Goodtime Charley (1975) and Grind . He has worked with a number of lyricists, and often in collaboration with theatre director Harold Prince. He composed the musical Paper Moon in 1993, based on the 1971 novel Addie Pray and the 1973 film, with the book by Martin Casella and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and Carol Hall. It ran at the Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, New Jersey in 1993, the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia in 1996, and Ford's Theatre, Washington, DC in 1997. He is also credited with songwriting on Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World with New York lyricist Marty Panzer. Grossman co-wrote the Michael Jackson song Gone Too Soon with Buz Kohan. He has also written incidental music for several shows including End of the World and Play Memory. He was music arranger for "A Capitol Fourth". He worked as a musical consultant on the television series The Muppet Show.
