Michael Viner, the president of Phoenix Books, Inc., passed away this weekend.

Here's more from his company: "Viner's accomplished career spanned over thirty years across the diverse areas of publishing, music and film. Viner was the President of Beverly Hills-based Phoenix Books Inc., a leading independent book and audio publisher. The recipient of numerous Grammy, Audie and Parent's Choice Awards, Mr. Viner was widely credited with revolutionizing and reinventing the audiobook industry as the co-founder of Dove Audio."

Over the years, Viner made many publishing headlines: criticizing aan O.J. Simpson book, buying a book by disgraced Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, and guiding the company that published a varied list that included rock star Gene Simmons and television host Larry King.