Book (classical) virtuoso pianist (8)
I believe the answer is:
liberace
'pianist' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'book classical virtuoso' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'book' could be 'b' (abbreviation for book) and 'b' is found within the answer.
'virtuoso' could be 'ace' (synonyms) and 'ace' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'lier' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for liberace that I've seen before include "Be a relic (anag) - pianist" , "Flamboyant American pianist" , "Flamboyant twentieth century US pianist" , "US pianist entertainer" , "Twentieth century American piano-playing entertainer" .)