[3] He joined the Moore and Burgess Minstrel Show, and quickly worked his way up to be the main song and dance man in the group, devising their routines.

His friendship and association with Leslie Stuart gave him many of the songs for which he became best-known, including "Little Dolly Day Dream" and "Lily of Laguna".

According to writer Roy Busby, Stratton "had neither a powerful nor an especially good voice, but he projected his songs by sheer artistry and natural acting ability... Seemingly oblivious of the audience, he sang softly at first, and slowly rising in pitch and volume, declared that Lily of Laguna was his lady love...".

[3] In another of his successful songs, "I Must Be Crazy but I Love You", "he would drift into a soft-shoe dance, full of delicate grace and accompanying himself with his powerful whistle...".

[4] In James Joyce's novel Ulysses (1922), the fifteenth episode, "Circe", has references to Stratton, as well as the adoption of a faux Negro dialect.