How strong can the case be when the prosecutor says he thought his side was going to lose? In the murder of David "Skull" Schulman, the prosecution pinned the crime on a 17-year-old homeless drifter. Will the Tennessee Innocence Project get involved?

How strong can the case be when the prosecutor says he thought his side was going to lose? In the murder of David "Skull" Schulman, the prosecution pinned the crime on a 17-year-old homeless drifter. Will the Tennessee Innocence Project get involved?

"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 8: What is Truth

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.

Bonus Episode: Witness says he’s sorry

As the investigation into the murder of David "Skull" Schulman began to focus on one suspect, a Nashville detective flew to California to interview a teenager who had been arrested in San Francisco on drug charges. Could this be the guy they were looking for? The new suspect said he didn't do it, and there was no physical evidence connecting him to the crime scene.

As the investigation into the murder of David "Skull" Schulman began to focus on one suspect, a Nashville detective flew to California to interview a teenager who had been arrested in San Francisco on drug charges. Could this be the guy they were looking for? The new suspect said he didn't do it, and there was no physical evidence connecting him to the crime scene.

Episode 7: You Got the Wrong Man

All roads led to Lincoln, Nebraska. A detective made the trip to Nebraska to find a new witness to the David "Skull" Schulman murder. This person may have been inside the Rainbow Room when Skull was attacked. The problem was that the detective found the witness in a mental institution.

All roads led to Lincoln, Nebraska. A detective made the trip to Nebraska to find a new witness to the David "Skull" Schulman murder. This person may have been inside the Rainbow Room when Skull was attacked. The problem was that the detective found the witness in a mental institution.

Episode 8: What is Truth

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