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".

[2] He re-recorded the piece many times for Berliner (as well as their successor company Victor), Zonophone, Edison and many others .

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.