"Smooth Operator" artist (4)
I believe the answer is:
sade
'smooth operator artist' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for sade that I've seen before include "Marquis de ..., famous for taking pleasure in pain" , "The Marquis de .... was renowned for cruelty" , "Jazz-pop group" , "letter from Israel?" , "Hebrew character" .)