Background
He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in Street Louis, Missouri.
He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in Street Louis, Missouri.
He began performing as a blackface act in vaudeville in 1874 before working as a duo with, first, John Merritt, and then Billy Draiton. He originated a dance move known as the "cane pat" which became popular with blackface minstrels, and, as part of Bailess and Kennedy"s "Brightlights" vaudeville act, became particularly associated with the song "Turkey in the Straw". In 1891, he recorded "Turkey in the Straw" for Columbia Records.
lieutenant became one of the best-selling recordings of the year.
He later re-recorded the piece for the Victor company. Other successful recordings by Golden included "Uncle Jefferson" (1891), "Bye Bye, My Honey" (1898), and "Roll On The Ground" (1901).
Most of his early recordings were as a solo performer. In 1907 he formed a new duo act with Joe Hughes, and they recorded together for several labels.
Golden and Hughes were among the first two-man teams to record blackface minstrel humor in black dialect.
After Hughes retired from performing, Golden began working with Jim Marlowe and then, after Marlowe"s death in 1917, with Billy Heins. In 1919, Golden reunited with Hughes for several more recordings. After 1920, Golden continued to perform and record as a solo acting
He died in New York City in 1926.