A famous artist - one making music (8)

I believe the answer is:

whistler

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'a famous artist' is the definition.
'whistler' can be an answer for 'artist' (painter James McNeill Whistler). I'm not certain of the 'a famous' bit.

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for whistler that I've seen before include "Artist who painted his mother in 1871" , "referee" , "He used canvas" , "American-born Victorian artist" , "pretending to be brave in the dark?" .)

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