Sammy Sadler came to Nashville to become a star like Garth Brooks and Faith Hill. But the path he chose was very different. He didn't play any gigs in town, and he didn't sell any records. He chose to make independent or "custom" singles, 7-inch 45 rpm vinyl records that he hoped would be played on country radio stations.

Sammy Sadler came to Nashville to become a star like Garth Brooks and Faith Hill. But the path he chose was very different. He didn't play any gigs in town, and he didn't sell any records. He chose to make independent or "custom" singles, 7-inch 45 rpm vinyl records that he hoped would be played on country radio stations.

This deep-dive, 8-part true-crime podcast is investigated and written by Tennessean reporter Keith Sharon. It focuses on the 1989 murder of country music chart director Kevin Hughes, who tried to operate with integrity in a business full of sharks and criminals. The podcast features never-before published reporting of details of the crime that not only defines Nashville of the 1980s and 1990s, but also shines light on a singer and one-time suspect who has demanded an apology from a detective who refuses to give him one.

This deep-dive, 8-part true-crime podcast is investigated and written by Tennessean reporter Keith Sharon. It focuses on the 1989 murder of country music chart director Kevin Hughes, who tried to operate with integrity in a business full of sharks and criminals. The podcast features never-before published reporting of details of the crime that not only defines Nashville of the 1980s and 1990s, but also shines light on a singer and one-time suspect who has demanded an apology from a detective who refuses to give him one.

Murder on Music Row: The story two bullets stopped Kevin Hughes from telling

This deep-dive, 8-part true-crime podcast is investigated and written by Tennessean reporter Keith Sharon. It focuses on the 1989 murder of country music chart director Kevin Hughes, who tried to operate with integrity in a business full of sharks and criminals. The podcast features never-before published reporting on the crime that not only defines Nashville of the 1980s and 1990s, but also shines light on a singer and one-time suspect who has demanded an apology from a detective who refuses to give him one.

For an exclusive, eight-part companion narrative series, become Tennessean subscriber. For more, go to Tennessean.com/murderonmusicrow.

This deep-dive, 8-part true-crime podcast is investigated and written by Tennessean reporter Keith Sharon. It focuses on the 1989 murder of country music chart director Kevin Hughes, who tried to operate with integrity in a business full of sharks and criminals. The podcast features never-before published reporting on the crime that not only defines Nashville of the 1980s and 1990s, but also shines light on a singer and one-time suspect who has demanded an apology from a detective who refuses to give him one.
For an exclusive, eight-part companion narrative series, become Tennessean subscriber. For more, go to <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2024/05/21/murder-on-music-row-nashville-kevin-hughes-podcast/72898249007/">Tennessean.com/murderonmusicrow</a>.

Murder on Music Row from The Tennessean

This deep-dive, 8-part true-crime podcast is investigated and written by Tennessean reporter Keith Sharon. It focuses on the 1989 murder of country music chart director Kevin Hughes, who tried to operate with integrity in a business full of sharks and criminals. The podcast features never-before published reporting of details of the crime that not only defines Nashville of the 1980s and 1990s, but also shines light on a singer and one-time suspect who has demanded an apology from a detective who refuses to give him one.

Episode 1 is available now. Episodes 2-8 debut exclusively for Tennessean subscribers. For more, go to Tennessean.com/murderonmusicrow.

This deep-dive, 8-part true-crime podcast is investigated and written by Tennessean reporter Keith Sharon. It focuses on the 1989 murder of country music chart director Kevin Hughes, who tried to operate with integrity in a business full of sharks and criminals. The podcast features never-before published reporting of details of the crime that not only defines Nashville of the 1980s and 1990s, but also shines light on a singer and one-time suspect who has demanded an apology from a detective who refuses to give him one.
Episode 1 is available now. Episodes 2-8 debut exclusively for Tennessean subscribers. For more, go to Tennessean.com/murderonmusicrow.

Murder on Music Row

Episode 3: Chasing that neon rainbow

When a jail officer discovered two keys missing from the control room, the new, about-to-open Nashville jail had a big problem. Who would break into a jail? What could that person do with stolen keys? The race was on to catch a man who inmates had given the nickname Einstein.

Read the series
Part 1:Two keys to an under-construction jail in Nashville went missing. Would it lead to havoc?
Part 2:A razor in his shoe. A makeshift ice pick. Nashville criminal 'learned his trade in jail'
Part 3: Could Einstein be captured inside the jail without knowing it was a trap? What happened next
Part 4:Einstein gives shocking explanation for breaking into new downtown Nashville jail

When a jail officer discovered two keys missing from the control room, the new, about-to-open Nashville jail had a big problem. Who would break into a jail? What could that person do with stolen keys? The race was on to catch a man who inmates had given the nickname Einstein.
Read the series
<ul>
<li>Part 1: <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2024/12/15/nashville-davidson-county-sheriff-daron-hall-chase-criminal/74355670007/">Two keys to an under-construction jail in Nashville went missing. Would it lead to havoc?</a></li>
<li>Part 2: <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2024/12/16/einstein-nashville-jail-mystery-man/74525690007/">A razor in his shoe. A makeshift ice pick. Nashville criminal 'learned his trade in jail'</a></li>
<li>Part 3: <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2024/12/17/nashville-jail-break-in-trap-einstein/74737176007/">Could Einstein be captured inside the jail without knowing it was a trap? What happened next</a></li>
<li>Part 4: <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2024/12/18/nashville-jail-daron-hall-alex-friedmann-trial/74794469007/">Einstein gives shocking explanation for breaking into new downtown Nashville jail</a></li>
</ul>

Chasing Einstein Part 1: Could missing keys lead to havoc?

The man with the nickname Einstein had served almost a decade in prison, where he learned tricks to help him get out of sticky situations. He hid razors in his wall and handcuff keys in his belt. Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall became obsessed with catching this man, who had unleashed a plan to infiltrate Hall's baby — the new Downtown Detention Center.

Read the series
Part 1:Two keys to an under-construction jail in Nashville went missing. Would it lead to havoc?
Part 2:A razor in his shoe. A makeshift ice pick. Nashville criminal 'learned his trade in jail'
Part 3: Could Einstein be captured inside the jail without knowing it was a trap? What happened next
Part 4:Einstein gives shocking explanation for breaking into new downtown Nashville jail

The man with the nickname Einstein had served almost a decade in prison, where he learned tricks to help him get out of sticky situations. He hid razors in his wall and handcuff keys in his belt. Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall became obsessed with catching this man, who had unleashed a plan to infiltrate Hall's baby &mdash; the new Downtown Detention Center.
Read the series
<ul>
<li>Part 1: <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2024/12/15/nashville-davidson-county-sheriff-daron-hall-chase-criminal/74355670007/">Two keys to an under-construction jail in Nashville went missing. Would it lead to havoc?</a></li>
<li>Part 2: <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2024/12/16/einstein-nashville-jail-mystery-man/74525690007/">A razor in his shoe. A makeshift ice pick. Nashville criminal 'learned his trade in jail'</a></li>
<li>Part 3: <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2024/12/17/nashville-jail-break-in-trap-einstein/74737176007/">Could Einstein be captured inside the jail without knowing it was a trap? What happened next</a></li>
<li>Part 4: <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2024/12/18/nashville-jail-daron-hall-alex-friedmann-trial/74794469007/">Einstein gives shocking explanation for breaking into new downtown Nashville jail</a></li>
</ul>

Chasing Einstein Part 2: How earlier crimes hinted at the future

When they finally found him, the plan was to keep Einstein OUT of the new jail facility. But that's not what happened. In January 2020, Einstein walked into the building carrying bolt cutters, and the jail officer who saw him had a quick decision to make.

Read the series
Part 1:Two keys to an under-construction jail in Nashville went missing. Would it lead to havoc?
Part 2:A razor in his shoe. A makeshift ice pick. Nashville criminal 'learned his trade in jail'
Part 3: Could Einstein be captured inside the jail without knowing it was a trap? What happened next
Part 4:Einstein gives shocking explanation for breaking into new downtown Nashville jail

When they finally found him, the plan was to keep Einstein OUT of the new jail facility. But that's not what happened. In January 2020, Einstein walked into the building carrying bolt cutters, and the jail officer who saw him had a quick decision to make.
Read the series
<ul>
<li>Part 1: <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2024/12/15/nashville-davidson-county-sheriff-daron-hall-chase-criminal/74355670007/">Two keys to an under-construction jail in Nashville went missing. Would it lead to havoc?</a></li>
<li>Part 2: <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2024/12/16/einstein-nashville-jail-mystery-man/74525690007/">A razor in his shoe. A makeshift ice pick. Nashville criminal 'learned his trade in jail'</a></li>
<li>Part 3: <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2024/12/17/nashville-jail-break-in-trap-einstein/74737176007/">Could Einstein be captured inside the jail without knowing it was a trap? What happened next</a></li>
<li>Part 4: <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2024/12/18/nashville-jail-daron-hall-alex-friedmann-trial/74794469007/">Einstein gives shocking explanation for breaking into new downtown Nashville jail</a></li>
</ul>

Episode 3: Chasing that neon rainbow

Murder on Music Row from The Tennessean

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Murder on Music Row

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