Nashville police scrambled to catch a knife-wielding assailant. But they would quickly discover David "Skull" Schulman was killed by a blow to the skull. One of their early suspects was serial killer Paul Dennis Reid (The Fast Food Killer), who was already in custody at the time of Skull's murder. The investigators were baffled.

Nashville police scrambled to catch a knife-wielding assailant. But they would quickly discover David "Skull" Schulman was killed by a blow to the skull. One of their early suspects was serial killer Paul Dennis Reid (The Fast Food Killer), who was already in custody at the time of Skull's murder. The investigators were baffled.

"Murder on Music Row Season 2: The Skull at the End of the Rainbow" is an 8-part deep dive, narrative podcast that focuses on the 1998 murder of David "Skull" Schulman, an iconic Nashville figure who owned the Skulls Rainbow Room strip club/country music bar for 50 years. The police may have botched the investigation. The prosecutor didn't believe he would get a conviction. And the Tennessee Innocence Project has looked into the case. Hosts Keith Sharon and Kirsten Fiscus uncovered new evidence that may upend long-held beliefs about Skull's murder.

"Murder on Music Row Season 2: The Skull at the End of the Rainbow" is an 8-part deep dive, narrative podcast that focuses on the 1998 murder of David "Skull" Schulman, an iconic Nashville figure who owned the Skulls Rainbow Room strip club/country music bar for 50 years. The police may have botched the investigation. The prosecutor didn't believe he would get a conviction. And the Tennessee Innocence Project has looked into the case. Hosts Keith Sharon and Kirsten Fiscus uncovered new evidence that may upend long-held beliefs about Skull's murder.

Murder on Music Row: The Skull at the End of the Rainbow

"Murder on Music Row" is a podcast produced by The Tennessean, which is part of the USA Today Network. It is a deep-dive narrative that covers one case per season, and includes murder, music and nostalgia from police investigations in Nashville, TN.

Season 1 focused on the execution-style 1989 murder of Cash Box Magazine chart director Kevin Hughes. 

Season 2: "The Skull at the End of the Rainbow" focuses on the life and 1998 murder of Nashville icon David "Skull" Schulman, who owned and operated Skull's Rainbow Room for 50 years. 

For an exclusive, eight-part companion narrative series, become a Tennessean subscriber. For more from season 1, go to Tennessean.com/murderonmusicrow.

For season 2 extras, click here.

"Murder on Music Row" is a podcast produced by The Tennessean, which is part of the USA Today Network. It is a deep-dive narrative that covers one case per season, and includes murder, music and nostalgia from police investigations in Nashville, TN.
Season 1 focused on the execution-style 1989 murder of Cash Box Magazine chart director Kevin Hughes.&nbsp;
Season 2: "The Skull at the End of the Rainbow" focuses on the life and 1998 murder of Nashville icon David "Skull" Schulman, who owned and operated Skull's Rainbow Room for 50 years.&nbsp;
For an exclusive, eight-part companion narrative series, become a Tennessean subscriber. For more from season 1, 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>.
For season 2 extras, <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2025/10/07/nashville-skull-rainbow-room-skull-schulman-murder/83275964007/">click here</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: Whiskey Lullaby

This is the second part of a two-part mini-season focusing on some of the issues raised in "Murder on Music Row Season 2: The Skull at the End of the Rainbow." In this episode we look at some of noteworthy murder cases investigated by Nashville detective E.J. Bernard, including the one that ended with him retiring in disgrace. 

This is the second part of a two-part mini-season focusing on some of the issues raised in "Murder on Music Row Season 2: The Skull at the End of the Rainbow." In this episode we look at some of noteworthy murder cases investigated by Nashville detective E.J. Bernard, including the one that ended with him retiring in disgrace.&nbsp;

Good Cop, Bad Cop Part 2

This special two-part mini-season focuses on some of the issues raised in "Murder on Music Row Season 2: The Skull at the End of the Rainbow." We do a deep dive into the career of Nashville detective E.J. Bernard, who has been accused of coercing and beating a witness in the David "Skull" Schulman murder case. This is part one of "Good Cop, Bad Cop."

This special two-part mini-season focuses on some of the issues raised in "Murder on Music Row Season 2: The Skull at the End of the Rainbow." We do a deep dive into the career of Nashville detective E.J. Bernard, who has been accused of coercing and beating a witness in the David "Skull" Schulman murder case. This is part one of "Good Cop, Bad Cop."

Good Cop, Bad Cop Part 1

In this bonus episode you'll hear the latest development. We got a call from Jason Pence, the star witness who testified he saw a teenager kill David “Skull” Schulman.

In this bonus episode you'll hear the latest development. We got a call from Jason Pence, the star witness who testified he saw a teenager kill David &ldquo;Skull&rdquo; Schulman.

Episode 3: Whiskey Lullaby

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