Billy Golden was born William B. Shires in Cincinnati, Ohio on 9 June 1858 and was raised in St. Louis. He began his entertainment career in 1874, doing a black-face talking act in vaudeville.

In the 1890s, Billy Golden worked for nearly all the record companies of the time, beginning with Columbia in 1891. He met Emile Berliner in 1894 and was among the first "name" entertainers to make Berliner discs. He recorded "Rabbit Hash" for Berliner on 24 August 1895.

His all-time biggest success was "Turkey in the Straw."

Another popular Golden number was "Bye-Bye, Ma Honey." For various record companies Golden also recorded "Yaller Gal" and "Sisseretta's Visit to the North." In 1899, Golden recorded eight titles for Edison with Arthur Collins, including three titles that Golden also recorded as solo numbers: "Bye-Bye, Ma Honey," "Roll on de Ground," and "Rabbit Hash."

Prior to 1908 Golden worked mostly as a solo artist. Golden and stage partner Joe Hughes began making records in late 1908. The recording team of Golden and Hughes was the first in a long line of two-man comedy teams that delivered jokes in black dialect. The duo enjoyed success in vaudeville as well as on records.

Billy Golden died in an apartment in New York City on 29 January 1926. He was buried in Kensico Cemetery.

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