Smith was signed by Columbia Records in 1923 when the label decided to make a `` race records '' series . Bessie Smith was signed by Columbia Records in 1923 and her first session for Columbia was February 15 , 1923 . For most of 1923 , her records were issued on Columbia 's regular A - series ; when the label decided to establish a `` race records '' series , Smith 's `` Cemetery Blues '' ( September 26 , 1923 ) was the first issued .